SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) softball team earned a rematch with the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), following a historic pitcher's duel in the second NCAA Division II Midwest Regional on Friday.
 
Sixth-seeded UMSL (35-22) survived second-seeded UIS (38-17) with a 2-0 victory in 13 innings after a legendary battle between UMSL's Carly Kingery (18-8) and UIS's Jaycee Craver (11-5). The Prairie Stars locked up their rematch with the Tritons in the regional championship after cruising to an 11-2 victory against Saginaw Valley State University (29-27) in six innings. UIS is ranked No. 19 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division II softball poll.
 
GAME 1: UMSL 2, UIS 0 (F/13)
Both Kingery and Craver carried no-hitters into the seventh inning. UMSL's Chelsea Martinez singled through the right side with one out in the seventh to snap Craver's no-hitter. On Thursday, Kingery completed a no-hitter in a 4-0 win against third-seeded McKendree University (38-18). She held a perfect game through six and two-thirds innings before hitting a batter. On Friday, Kingery maintained a perfect game for the same duration. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, UIS's Lakyn Wagoner singled through the right side, which broke up Kingery's perfect game and snapped Kingery's hitless streak which lasted 16 and one-third innings.
 
Kingery struck out 17 batters, walked zero batters and allowed six hits in 13 scoreless innings for the win. She threw 174 pitches on the day. Craver fired 192 pitches in the loss. The junior from Tremont, IL fanned 10 batters, issued four walks and gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits in 13 innings.
 
"Jaycee did a tremendous job on the mound holding them scoreless for 12 innings," UIS coach Shannon Guthrie said. "She worked her spots and gave a great opportunity.
 
UMSL's Serena Olson sent an RBI double to right center in the top of the 13th inning and Jennah Perryman scored on a fielding error on the same play.
 
"The game came down to who was going to get the clutch hit. Unfortunately, is wasn't us."
 
Playing a role in limiting UMSL's offense were critical defense plays by the Prairie Stars.
 
"Our entire defense really came to play and did a great job. They got us out of multiple jams and played solid all 13 innings."
 
Natalie Cokel went 2-for-5 with a double for the Prairie Stars. Calla Wickenhauser contributed a double while Wagoner and Haley Inman provided singles to round out the five hits for the Prairie Stars.
 
Olson and Reagan Osborn both went 2-for-6 for the Tritions. Martinez and Lizzy Miller both produced singles to round out UMSL's six hits.
 
In the seventh, Wagoner singled and stole second, but UMSL brought the game into extras.
 
UMSL's Madi Sundling reached base on a passed ball in the eighth. Hannah Kain rebounded by firing a bullet to pick off Sundling on the next play.
 
During the 10th, Miller drew a one-out walk. Sundling managed to reach on an error with two outs, moving Miller to second. Craver then got the next batter to line out.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Wickenhauser ripped a one-out double. Kingery then retired the next two batters.
 
UIS created another opportunity in the 11th. Inman laid down a bunt single to lead off the inning. Katie Wooldridge contributed a sacrifice bunt to move Inman over to second with one out. Kingery once again escaped the inning as she retired the next two batters.
 
Craver found herself in a jam during the 12th. Olson and Miller both connected on singles. A groundout moved Olsen and Miller over, putting two runs in scoring position. Craver then got the next batter to pop out to end the inning.
 
UMSL began its rally with two outs in the 13th. Osborn singled to left and Perryman drew a walk. Olson then doubled to right center, driving in Osborn. A fielding error also allowed Perryman to score and Olson to reach third. Craver retired the next batter.
 
UIS trailed by two runs in the bottom of the 13th. Cokel led off wth a double and Kain was hit by a pitch. Inman moved Cokel and Kain on a sacrifice bunt to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Kingery then recorded a strikeout and created a flyout to seal the victory.
 
"It was good to see us fight back in the bottom of the 13th and get two runners into scoring position. Now we just someone to step up and drive them in. We need to find a way to push across runners. We need to trust our bats to do what they've done all year. They are more than capable of hitting UMSL and I hope they come out attacking on Saturday."
 
GAME 2: UIS 11, SAGINAW VALLEY STATE 2 (F/6)
"I was so proud of our team for bouncing back after that devastating loss. That was a tough game and we needed to set the tone early."
 
Inman finished with a career day as the junior from Anna, IL belted a three-run triple, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Morgan Edwards went 3-for-3. Bree Derhake finished 2-for-3 with two doubles. Cokel went 2-for-3 and Wagoner went 2-for-4. Madi Torry rounded out UIS's 13 hits with a single.
 
"Our bats came back and provided us with the offense we had missed in the first game. We got back to our game plan and executed to be able to put us back on the field for Saturday. Our lefties put some pressure on the defense to make plays and that is exactly what we need to do. We need to generate offense with our speed and continue to apply pressure."
 
Meredith Rousse went 2-for-3 with a two-run double for Saginaw Valley State. Maddy Burgess finished 2-for-3 while Lauren Bachert and Danielle Hamilton both provided singles.
 
Ali Haesele (23-9) picked up the win. She punched out eight batters, yielded two walks and allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits in six innings.
 
Mikayla Alexandrou (9-10) was tagged with the loss. She recorded four strikeouts, walked two batters and surrendered 11 runs (seven earned) on 13 hits in six innings.
 
UIS turned in five runs in the top of the second. Edwards put the Prairie Stars on the board with an RBI single. Torry reached on a fielder's choice. On the same play, Saginaw Valley State's second baseman committed an error as she was attempting to throw out Edwards at home, allowing Edwards and Inman to score off the error. Haesele contributed an RBI groundout and Derhake knocked in Torry on a sacrifice fly.
 
In the third, Torry laided down a bunt single. On the same play, the first baseman flipped a toss to home in an attempt to putout Cokel, but the ball went past the catcher. Cokel scored and Edwards scored off the error to give UIS a 7-0 lead. Torry was credited with one RBI.
 
Rousse cracked a two-run double in the fifth, cutting UIS's lead to 7-2.
 
During the sixth, Wickenhauser sent in Derhake on a sacrifice fly. Inman then ripped a three-run triple.
 
UP NEXT
UIS earned a rematch with UMSL in the championship series of the second NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. The first game is scheduled to start on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Land of Lincoln Softball Complex. Game 2 is an "if necessary" game, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the event that UIS wins Game 1. UMSL clinches the regional title with one win while UIS can claim the regional crown by earned two wins against the Tritons on Saturday.
 
"We will need to execute in our roles and stick with our approach. We have a lot of work to do but we can absolutely do it. There is no doubt in my mind that this team will come out fighting and put it all out there in the field. It's awesome to be playing on Championship Saturday and we need to be ready to compete. It will be an exciting day of softball."