ROSEMONT, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) softball team earned wins against Wayne State University and Grand Valley State University during the Lewis Flyers D-2 Midwest Region Dome Invitational on Saturday.
 
UIS (6-2) knocked off Wayne State (0-4) with a 1-0 victory during to start the day. Wayne State is ranked No. 15 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division II poll. The Prairie Stars closed out with a 5-2 win against Grand Valley State (3-3).
 
GAME 1: UIS 1, NO. 15 WAYNE STATE 0
Hannah Kain tallied a double. Ali Haesele, Lakyn Wagoner, Morgan Edwards, Erin Stroup and Bree Derhake each contributed singles to round out UIS's six hits.
 
Wayne State's Brooke Turkalj provided a single.
 
Haesele (3-1) compiled a one-hitter for the win. She struck out five batters and gave up two walks in seven scoreless innings.
 
Wayne State's Megan Guitar (0-2) was hit with the loss. She fanned four batters, issued one walk and allowed one run on six hits in six innings.
 
Turkalj led off the top of the second with a walk for the Warriors. Rachelle Clayton grounded out to move Turkalj over to second. UIS retired the next two batters.
 
Kain cracked a one-out double in the third. After Wayne State recorded the second out, Haesele drew an intentional walk but the Warriors got the third out.
 
With two outs in the top of the fourth, Turkalj provided a single and Clayton reached on a fielding error, but the Prairie Stars made the third out.
 
During the bottom of the fourth, Edwards connected on a one-out single. Kendra Peifer pinch ran for Edwards. Stroup singled on the next at bat. On the same play, Peifer was put out at third, but Stroup reached second on the play. Derhake singled in Stroup from second on the next play and Derhake reached second on the throw. Wayne State retired the next batter, but UIS took the one-run lead.
 
Haesele delivered a two-out single in the fifth and stole second, but the Warriors put out the next batter.
 
During the top of the sixth, Bryanna Kressler drew a leadoff walk and Rainey Psenicka moved Kresller to second on a sacrifice bunt, but Haesele retired the next two batters to maintain UIS's 1-0 lead.
 
Wagoner led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt from Edwards. The Prairie Stars made the effort to add an insurance run, but the Warriors shut down the opportunity.
 
In the seventh, Haesele retired the Wayne State lineup in order.
 
GAME 2: UIS 5, GRAND VALLEY STATE 2
Haesele finished 2-for-4 with a run-scoring triple. Stroup belted a triple while Edwards and Calla Wickenhauser provided singles to round out UIS's five hits.
 
Kaylie Rhynard went 2-for-3 for the Lakers. Grand Valley State also received singles from Teagan Shomin, Shannon Flaherty, Bailey Thatcher and Jessica Ramos.
 
Rachel Goff (2-1) locked up the win. She tallied a strikeout, walked two batters and gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits in four and two-thirds of an inning. Jaycee Craver picked up her first save of the season. Craver fanned a batter and allowed three hits in two and one-third innings.
 
Allison Lipovsky (1-2) was tagged with the loss. She punched out eight batters, yielded three walks and surrendered five runs (two earned) on five hits in six innings.
 
During the bottom of the first, Edwards cracked an RBI single and Stroup belted a run-scoring triple to give UIS is a 2-0 lead.
 
The Lakers cut their deficit to one run when Shomin scored off an error in the top of the third.
 
During the bottom of the third, Haesele scored on a passed ball. Stroup stole second with Madi Torry on third. Grand Valley State attempted to nail Stroup on the throw but a throwing error allowed Torry to score.
 
Haesele drove in Wickenhauser in the fourth after Haesele reached on an error to put the Prairie Stars with a 5-1 lead.
 
Tanner Kiessel scored in the fifth after Rhynard reached on a fielder's choice.
 
UP NEXT
The Prairie Stars conclude the Lewis Flyers D-2 Midwest Region Dome Invitational on Sunday by taking on the University of Findlay (2-4) at 9 a.m.