ROMEOVILLE, IL --- Illinois Springfield (21-21, 7-11) salvaged a split with the Lewis Flyers (22-17, 10-8), falling in game one 6-3 before taking the final game of the weekend 13-3. Illinois Springfield managed just six hits in the first game but turned up the offense in game two, plating 13 runs on 11 hits, including six for extra bases.

GAME ONE: LEWIS 6, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3
Lewis opened the day with three runs in the first inning to take control of the first game, scoring three runs on two separate RBI doubles.

The Prairie Stars got on the board in the fourth inning when Morgan Edwards connected for her fifth homerun of the season and second of the weekend to leadoff the inning. After Edwards cut the deficit to 3-1, Ali Haesele doubled in BriAnna Edgar later in the fourth to make the score 3-2 but UIS left runners at second and third to end the inning.

The Flyers plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth on a three-run homerun and pushed the score to 6-2. UIS scored once more in the final frame on a double from Lakyn Wagoner, but came up short, 6-3.

Haesele (12-6) took the loss in the circle, throwing 4.2 innings and giving up six runs on ten hits. Jaycee Craver pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing no baserunners against her four batters.

Six different players collected hits for UIS with three players each driving in a run and scoring a run.

GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 13, LEWIS 3
The Prairie Stars wasted no time in the second game to grab an early lead, thanks to senior Amanda Gosbeth, who blasted a two-run homerun in the top of the first. Following the homerun, Lakyn Wagoner drew a walk and scored on an ensuing double from Edwards. Another double, this one from Bree Derhake, scored the fourth run of the inning for UIS to give the Prairie Stars a 4-0 cushion.

Lewis responded with three runs in the bottom half, but Brittany Moore limited the damage by retiring the final three batters of the inning to keep a 4-3 lead.

Gosbeth kept the offense going in the second with a two-out RBI single, scoring Madi Torry, who began the rally with a two-out walk.

Up 5-3, UIS broke the game open in the fourth when Haesele began the inning with a solo homerun --- her fourth of the season. Gosbeth followed with a singled and stolen base and came into score on a screaming line drive from Wagoner, which went off the left fielder's glove. Edwards closed the rally with a sacrifice fly to push the score to 8-3.

In the fifth, Haesele drove in two runs with a double before Gosbeth connected for her fourth hit of the day, blasting another two-run homerun and making the score 13-3, where it became final.

Gosbeth had a career day at the plate in game two, going 4-for-4 with five runs batted in and three runs scored. The four hits, five RBI, and two homeruns are all career-high's while the three runs match a career best for the senior.

The three homeruns as a team are a season-best for the Prairie Stars and the 13 runs mark the first time all season the Prairie Stars eclipsed double digits.  

Rachel Goff (3-3) picked up the win, relieving Moore after 2.1 innings. Goff threw the final 2.2 innings, giving u just two hits and no runs.

UIS will continue their near month long road trip next weekend when they travel to face St. Joseph's on Friday and the #14 University of Indianapolis on Saturday. The Prairie Stars are currently in 11^th place in the GLVC, where the top-eight qualify for the conference tournament.