SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - It took one swing of the bat for the University of Illinois Springfield softball team to earn a split with visiting Bellarmine as UIS won 1-0 in game two at Land of Lincoln Softball Complex on a chilly Saturday afternoon. Bellarmine took the opening game, 2-0 in eight innings.

UIS now moves to 20 wins on the season, just seven shy of matching last season. The Prairie Stars are 7-3 in league play and face a tough Southern Indiana team on Sunday. The Eagles are ranked No. 16 in the country. Bellarmine posts a record of 20-8 and 8-2 in league action.

One swing from junior Ashli King in the bottom of the fifth was all the Prairie Stars needed to secure the game. King sent a homer over the left field fence to give UIS a 1-0 lead. King has a team-leading four home runs.

On the defensive side, sophomore Taylor Bowlby pitched a complete game shut out, her fourth of the year. The reigning GLVC Pitcher of the Week surrendered just three hits and struck out five in seven innings of work. Only one player for the Knights moved past second base.

In game one, neither team could find batters as pitchers Ally Foster and Alexandria Smith battled on the rubber. The Knights left six runners stranded, while UIS left three on the bag. Foster missed a perfect game by just five batters as she struck out 16 in seven innings. She also came in relief in game two and fanned five more.

Smith was also holding it down until extra innings got the best of her. Back-to-back singles put runners in scoring position followed by a double down the right field line gave the Knights all they would need to take the game. Smith gave up just four hits and three walks, while getting five on strikes.

The Prairie Stars are back in action against No. 16 Southern Indiana. Check back at the UIS website for any schedule changes due to weather.