ROSEMONT, IL --- The Prairie Stars faced off against Wayne State and Grand Valley State in their first games back from Florida. UIS (3-8) fell twice by scores of 5-0 and 7-5, but the offense came alive in the second game as they recorded 10 hits off Grand Valley.

GAME 1: WAYNE ST 5, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 0
In the top of the first inning, the Warriors scratched across two runs on Jaycee Craver to take the early lead. The Prairie Stars went down in order in the bottom half before Wayne State pushed two more across in the top of the second. Both the runs in the second came on two-out hits as the Warriors took a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Wayne State scored on a bunt single to make the score 5-0, as UIS was still hitless through three. Alexandria Smith came in to relieve Craver in the top of the fourth and pitched brilliantly, not surrendering another run.

The Prairie Stars recorded their first baserunner in the fourth when Madi Torry drew an eight pitch walk to lead off the inning before Amanda Gosbeth drew another walk right behind her. The Prairie Stars couldn't capitalize though, and remained trailing 5-0.

Smith made quick work in the fifth before the Prairie Stars rallied in the bottom half, getting two baserunners on by way of a Rachel Goff walk and Haley Inman single. Inman then stole second but was stranded after Torry grounded out to third to end the inning.

UIS rallied again in the sixth as Gosbeth singled to center to lead off the inning on a 2-2 count and then stole second with nobody out. Ashli King singled to right but Gosbeth was thrown out at home to keep the Prairie Stars off the board.

UIS went in order in the final frame and fell to 3-7 on the season.

Gosbeth, King, and Inman each recorded hits in the loss, while Torry and Goff each drew walks. Craver took the loss in the circle, throwing three innings and giving up nine hits and five earned runs. Smith threw four innings in relief, surrendering just one hit and walking none.

GAME 2: GRAND VALLEY STATE 7, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 5
In the second game of their double-header, UIS gave up three runs in the first inning, falling behind early like game one. However, this time around, the Prairie Stars responded right back, scoring one in the bottom of the first and four in the second.

Inman led off the game with a single and stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Using her speed all the way around, Inman came home on another wild pitch to cut into the deficit.

In the second inning, McClaughry singled to lead off the inning which was followed by a Molly Manietta single to center. Jordyn Larsen laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners before Trusha Faulkner cleared the bases with a triple to right center. Torry followed that up with a single to left, scoring Faulkner and then came in to score on a Brittany Miller ground rule double to straight away center field.

The Prairie Stars took a 5-3 lead into the third where Craver shut the door and held Grand Valley scoreless.

The score remained the same until the fifth when Grand Valley began the inning with three straight hits --- a single, triple, and double --- and tied the game at five. This pushed Craver out of the game and Smith came in for her second relief appearance of the night. She got the next three batters out and limited the damage, keeping the game tied at five.

In the next half inning, McClaughry drew a two-out walk and then stole second but was stranded at second.

In the sixth, Grand Valley put together a two-run rally that included two throwing errors by the Prairie Stars that allowed for extra bases. Smith limited the damage by getting the final two batters to fly out and ground out, stranding a runner at third.


The Prairie Stars put runners on in the sixth and seventh but were unable to move them over and the game ended 7-5.

Inman, Miller, and McClaughry each had two hits and McClaughry reached base three times and stole a base. Faulkner had two RBI and a triple while Torry had a hit, run, and RBI in the two-spot.

Smith took the tough loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in three innings of relief. Craver threw four innings and surrendered five runs on nine hits.