ROLLA, Mo. – The University of Illinois Springfield softball team held the Missouri S&T bats in check in game two as the Stars won, 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Miner Field. Missouri S&T opened the series with a 4-2 victory.
 
UIS (29-18, 14-12 GLVC) struck first with a run in the top of the first as senior Lauren Hollinshead doubled down the left field line to begin the game. She then stole third and scored on a throwing error.
 
The Miners (9-26, 6-20 GLVC) came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff single to right eventually scored on Kyra Slemp's triple into the right field corner. Slemp came into score on a ground out for the S&T lead.
 
The Prairie Stars threatened in the second getting back-to-back singles, but the Lady Miners got out of the inning on a popout. S&T's bats were held quiet through the next four innings as sophomore Taylor Bowlby retired 15 straight batters in one stretch.
 
UIS tied the game in the top of the fifth as Bowlby led off the inning with a double to left center. Sophomore BriAnna Edgar pinch ran and came around to score on Brittany Miller's single to left field.
 
Missouri S&T regained the lead in the home half of the sixth as another triple brought home a run. A squeeze bunt scored the second run of the game for the 4-2 lead.
 
Illinois Springfield looked to win the game in the seventh with the bases loaded and no outs, but Kati Viets got out of the jam with a foul out and a fly out and ended the game with an out at home.
 
Viets picked up the win going the final 5.1 innings allowing a run on four hits with a strikeout and two walks. She came on relief of Becca Strope who left with two outs in the second due to illness.
 
Junior Alexandria Smith held the Lady Miners without a hit until the fourth inning. The Prairie Stars got a run in the third inning thanks to Hollinshead's leadoff walk and a two-out single.
 
S&T got the tying run into scoring position in both the fourth and sixth innings but couldn't get the big hit leaving runners on. UIS tacked on an insurance run in the seventh thanks to a two-out double from Hollinshead who scored on an RBI-single from Miller.
 
Smith moved to 11-10 on the season with the victory as she surrendered just three hits and two walks, while striking out five.
 
After being away from the Land of Lincoln Softball Complex for most of April, UIS returns home for its final two GLVC series beginning with William Jewell on Saturday, April 25. The twinbill begins at 12 p.m.