SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (19-17, 5-7) were riding a three-game winning streak coming into the day but #10 Southern Indiana (29-7, 8-4) bested the Prairie Stars twice by scores of 4-2 and 2-0. Illinois Springfield held the potent Southern Indiana offense at bay for most of the day, but couldn't get things going offensively.
GAME ONE: #10 SOUTHERN INDIANA 4, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 2
In the first game of the twin bill, Rachel Goff (2-3) started in the circle for the Prairie Stars and surrendered hits to the first three batters of the game. With runners on second and third with nobody out, Goff retired the next three batters to limit the damage, though the Screaming Eagles scored twice in the first.
The Prairie Stars stranded four runners in the first three innings while Jaycee Craver was shutting down the Southern Indiana offense after coming in relief in the third.
Southern Indiana plated another run in the fifth and one more in the seventh to take a 4-0 lead. In the bottom half, UIS got a leadoff pinch hit double from Bree Derhake and later scored on a two-out two-run double from Lakyn Wagoner, her second of the game.
With the tying run now at the plate, Erin Stroup popped out to end the game, but not before UIS tacked on two runs.
Goff took the loss for UIS, throwing two innings and giving up two earned runs. Craver threw the next four innings and gave up two earned runs, struck out three and walked none. Brittany Moore finished the final frame, giving up just one hit against four batters.
Madi Torry led the way with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, scoring a run while Wagoner went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two doubles.
GAME TWO: #10 SOUTHERN INDIANA, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 0
The Prairie Stars had little luck against one of the GLVC's best pitchers in game two. Ali Haesele (11-5) matched her pitch-for-pitch through three innings, but in the fourth, gave up a solo homerun that barely cleared the outstretched glove of Madi Torry in centerfield.
Another run came across for Southern Indiana in the sixth on a single to center when the runner barely beat the throw from Torry, dodging the tag from catcher, Amanda Gosbeth.
Wagoner drew a walk to lead off the game but was left stranded and UIS didn't get another baserunner until the fifth when Derhake reached on an error before BriAnna Edgar was hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second, UIS had their best scoring chance of the day, but couldn't capitalize.
A walk to Alexa Brown in the seventh again brought the tying run to the plate but Southern Indiana closed out the game for the 2-0 win.
???????Haesele threw a complete-game, giving up just two runs on five hits, striking out five.
UIS will return home on Tuesday to face McKendree in GLVC action for games at 3:00 and 5:00 pm. These will be the last home games for nearly a month as the Prairie Stars will hit the road for 12-straight games.
