SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The University of Illinois Springfield softball team bats came alive in game one against McKendree with a 15-2 victory in five innings on Tuesday afternoon at the Land of Lincoln Softball Complex. McKendree took the second game, 7-5.
The Prairie Stars scattered runs across four innings to take the edge on the Bearcats. Freshman
Jordyn Larsen tripled before scoring on a sac fly from
Jordyn Amos. Despite two outs,
Rachel Goff then stepped to the plate and hit a single up the middle before
Ashli King brought her around with a double for a 2-0 lead.
In the second,
Brittany Miller doubled to lead off the inning and was replaced on the bases by
Trisha Faulkner. A walk put two on for before
BriAnna Edgar hit a single to deep right center. A ground out allowed Edgar to move up a base before Larsen doubled to score two more runs. An error then prolonged the inning and allowed two more runs to come around for a 6-0 advantage.
UIS continued to score in the third inning when
Chelsea Minor smacked a home run down the right field line to plate two. Amos scored another run for UIS with her second sacrifice fly of the day. A deep single to right center from Goff scored two more runs for an 11-0 lead.
The Prairie Stars continued to score in the fourth when they were able to bring around four runs on just one hit due to pitching struggles for a 15-0 lead.
McKendree was able to get two back with a home run from Lindsay Schmitz in the fifth, but it was all they could get as the run-rule ended the game.
Alexandria Smith (8-5) earned the win with eight hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
In game two, the Bearcats jumped out in front with three runs in the first, but UIS responded with two of its own.
The Prairie Stars then took back the lead in the third when
Lauren Hollinshead came around to score on a wild pitch. She started the inning being hit by a pitch before stealing second and moving to third on a wild throw. A walk followed by an an error put runners on second and third. King then singled to left field to score the second run of the inning for a 4-3 advantage.
It was a short-lived lead though as McKendree added three more runs in the sixth for the 7-4 lead. UIS plated its final run when back-to-back doubles led off the sixth, but it was not enough to get back the lead to secure the sweep.
Illinois Springfield now heads out on the road for majority of April. The Prairie Stars conclude the season at home on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26.
