ST. LOUIS, MO --- The Prairie Stars (14-11, 1-1) opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with #17 Missouri – St. Louis (19-7, 1-1) and split, falling 4-3 in 10 innings before coming from behind to win 6-1 in game two. Rachel Goff (2-2) took the tough loss in game one, throwing a career-high 9.1 innings, giving up just seven hits. Ali Haesele (9-3) continued to dominate, throwing a complete game two-hitter, striking out seven.

GAME ONE: #17 MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS 4, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3 (10 INNINGS)
UIS jumped on top early, scoring two runs in the second innings to take a 2-0 lead over the nationally ranked Tritons. In the second, Haesele singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on an error from the center fielder. A sacrifice bunt moved her to third before Alexa Brown singled her home. Madi Torry reached via fielders' choice and promptly stole second, putting her in position to come home on a single from Erin Stroup, giving UIS the 2-0 lead.

Goff blanked the Tritons in the first two innings but surrendered three runs in the third on a two-out home run.

However, Goff settled in nicely, retiring the final batter of the inning and then the next 14 batters after that, not allowing a runner until two-outs in the eighth. She promptly got out of that inning as well, striking out the final batter.

In the seventh innings, UIS trailed 3-2 but Haesele swung at the first pitch of the innings, putting it over the left field wall for a game-tying solo home run.

UIS put runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings, but couldn't get the next big hit to take the lead. UMSL took advantage, scoring the game-winning run in the tenth.  

The two teams combined for 13 hits --- six for UIS and seven for UMSL. Stroup had three of those hits as well as a walk and an RBI and Haesele collected two hits with two runs and an RBI. Brown tallied the final hit for UIS with an RBI as well.

GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 6, #17 MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS 1
The final game of the day started auspiciously for UMSL, as they drilled a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. This is the second time in her last two starts that Haesele allowed a first inning home run, and the second time in which she shut down that team for the remainder of the game.

UIS rallied behind their junior pitcher, scoring four runs in the fourth to take a three-run lead. Morgan Edwards began the scoring with a solo shot to center field --- her second home run of the season. Lakyn Wagoner followed with a double and scored on a single from Haesele. Amanda Gosbeth concluded the inning with her first home run of the season, blasting a two-run home run to center field.

The Prairie Stars followed that with a two run fifth inning, beginning with a walk from Stroup. With the bases loaded after two more walks, Haesele walked, forcing in Stroup and then an UMSL error scored Wagoner, giving UIS a 6-1 lead.

That was more than enough for Haesele, who completed the game, giving up just two hits and one walk over seven dominate innings. Haesele has now won her last six starts, giving up just five runs over that span, dropping her ERA to a mere 1.29. She has only given up more than one run in two of her 12 outings, limiting opponents to just 54 hits in 73.2 innings.

PRAIRIE STAR NOTES: UIS improves to 6-11 all-time against the Tritons and have now beat them twice when ranked, the last coming on March 4^th, 2015 … Erin Stroup went 5-for-7 with two walks on the day … Ali Haesele had four hits, a walk, three runs, three RBI, a double and a home run … UIS drew eight walks on the day and committed zero errors.

UIS will return to GLVC action tomorrow when they take on Maryville on the road. First pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 12:00 pm.