RENSSELAER, IN --- The Prairie Stars (23-21, 9-11) picked up a huge Great Lakes Valley Conference sweep over Saint Joseph's College (13-26, 6-14), beating the Pumas 7-1 and 6-0.
Ali Haesele struck out nine batters in the first game to pick up the win while
Jaycee Craver tossed a complete-game three-hitter in game two.
GAME ONE: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 7, SAINT JOSEPH'S 1
In the second inning, Saint Joseph's got on the board first with a double and triple with two-outs, taking a 1-0 lead. Haesele struck out the final batter to limit the damage, picking up her fourth strikeout in the early goings.
UIS came back in the top of the third inning when
Alexa Brown started the inning with a single to right field. A bunt single from
Katie Wooldridge put runners at first and second and after a fielders' choice,
Madi Torry drove in the first two runs for UIS with a single. A sacrifice fly from
Amanda Gosbeth put UIS up 3-1.
The Prairie Stars plated two more runs in the fifth, all with two outs, as Gosbeth started the rally with a single to left field and scored on a triple from
Lakyn Wagoner.
Morgan Edwards singled in Wagoner to push the UIS lead to 5-1.
An error in the sixth from the Puma's plated another run for UIS while an RBI fielders' choice from Brown scored the final run.
Haesele (13-6) was dominate all game, striking out nine batters and allowing just the two hits in the second inning. The nine strikeouts were one off her career-high while the two hits match her season low in a seven inning performance.
Edwards notched her second four-hit game of the season, driving in one while Wooldridge also had multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run. The triple from Wagoner was her seventh of the season, which leads the conference.
GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 6, SAINT JOSEPH'S 0
The dominate pitching continued for UIS as Craver (6-9) tossed her best outing of the year, throwing a complete-game and allowing just three hits. The sophomore righty struck out two and allowed just five base runners in the shutout.
Gosbeth kept her hot streak with the bat going in game two, leading the way for UIS with a 3-for-4 performance with a run, two doubles, and a stolen base.
Brown and Wooldridge each collected two hits in the eighth and ninth spots in the order as Brown went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI's and Wooldridge 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Brown got the scoring started in the second inning with a two RBI single and then came into score on a single from Wooldridge. In the third, UIS extended their lead to 5-0 on a single from Edwards, while scoring again on a St. Joseph's error.
A wild pitch scored
Madi Torry in the fourth to push the score to 6-0 and that was more than enough for UIS to cruise to a 6-0 victory.
UIS has now won three consecutive games and have only surrendered more than three runs twice in their last six games. As a team, UIS surrendered just five hits in 14 innings to the Puma's in what was as dominate a pitching performance as they have had all season.
The Prairie Stars will now travel to face the University of Indianapolis in what will be a crucial double header in the GLVC conference tournament race.
