JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Junior pitcher Alexandria Smith tossed a two-hit shutout in an 8-0 win in six innings, while the University of Illinois Springfield softball team stopped a comeback from Lake Superior State with a 4-3 win in game two on Saturday afternoon at Lenz Field.
 
UIS, now 10-3 on the season, got things started in the first when a short hit to the pitcher from Brittany Miller (Washington, Ill.) allowed Lauren Hollinshead (Sherman, Ill.) to score from third. Hollinshead started the game with a double to left center before stealing third.
 
Hollinshead scored the second run of the game in the third after walking and stealing second. A single from Ashli King (Sterling, Ill.) up the middle brought home the run for a 2-0 lead.
 
UIS tacked on two in the fourth when Rachel Goff hit a two-out double to center field. Amanda Gosbeth (Carol Stream, Ill.) then sent a triple to right center to score Goff before crossing home on a short single to the pitcher.
 
In the fifth inning, junior Molly Manietta (Coal City, Ill.) crushed a three-run homer over the right field fence. She brought home Jordyn Amos (Columbia, Ill.) and King. Amos reached on a fielder's choice, while King sent a single just past the short stop.
 
With a 7-0 lead heading into the sixth, a lead-off error from the Lakers followed by a double from Gosbeth put runners on. A walk loaded the bases before a wild pitch scored the game-ending run.
 
Smith (East Peoria, Ill.) threw the complete game with two hits, five walks and nine strikeouts. She moves to 5-1 on the season and has a 2.73 ERA. Mandy Rosol was tagged with the loss in 4.2 innings, surrendering eight hits, one walk and seven runs (six earned). UIS did not have any strikeouts in the opening game.
 
In game two, UIS plated a run in the second when pitcher Taylor Bowlby (St. Charles, Ill.) stole second to draw the throw to second allowing Trisha Faulkner (Sterling, Ill.) to score after pinch running for Manietta.
 
The Prairie Stars added two more runs in the third. A walk followed by a wild pitch put a runner in scoring position before a ground out moved Chelsea Minor (Petersburg, Ill.) to third. Minor then crossed home on King's single through the right side. Amos then sent a single to second base putting runners on first and second. Another wild pitch moved the baserunners up before a passed ball gave UIS the 3-0 lead.
 
The next two innings were quiet and LSSU only got one runner past second base in the opening six innings. UIS plated its final run in the bottom of the sixth when Minor hit a single to the deep infield allowing Gosbeth to score.
 
Lake Superior made things interesting in the seventh inning after a leadoff double. A short bunt put runners on the corner. A single to left field turned into two extra bases and two runs after a miscue by left fielder BriAnna Edgar (Chatham, Ill.), but she more than made up for it. With the tying run on second base, Edgar made a diving catch in foul territory to end the game and secure the win.

Bowlby gave up nine hits, three runs and one walk with a strike out to move to 5-2 on the year. Riley Durbano dropped to 1-2 on the year with five hits, four runs (three earned), six walks and four strikeouts.

UIS is back in action on Sunday against the Lakers. Game time in Jacksonville is set for 10 a.m. and noon.