The No. 12 University of Illinois Springfield softball team opened up the 2019 season on Friday against a pair of schools from the South. The Prairie Stars fell in the opener by a 9-7 margin against Delta State, and then lost to No. 11 Alabama Huntsville by an 11-3 score.
 
UIS took a 2-1 lead after 2 ½ innings against Delta State. Kendra Peifer had the big hit with a two-run single that scored Addison Bryant and Natalie Cokel. Delta State would answer though with eight runs over the next three innings to lead 9-2 after five innings.
 
The Prairie Stars nearly staged a huge comeback, getting the potential winning run to the plate in the seventh. UIS scored five times and had two runners on base before Delta State was finally able to close out the game.
 
Grace Harris finished the game with two RBI and one run as she played a big role in that seventh inning comeback attempt. Cokel and Alexa Brown each had one run and RBI. Lakyn Wagoner had two hits against Delta State.
 
Game two was similar as it was the middle innings that hurt UIS. The Prairie Stars scored three times in the top of the first. Bree Derhake, Wagoner, and Calla Wickenhauser all scored, and Wickenhauser and Madi Torry each had a RBI.
 
The game remained 3-0 until the bottom of the third when the Chargers scored four times, including a big three-run, two-out double. Alabama Huntsville would score one more in the fourth, and then ended the game with an six-run fifth inning.
 
Torry finished the second game with two hits, and Derhake reached base twice with a hit and a walk. Wagoner had a pair of stolen bases.
 
UIS will be back in action tomorrow afternoon during Day Two of the Charger Chillout in Huntsville, Ala. The Prairie Stars will take on Union (Tenn.) at 3 p.m., and Kentucky Wesleyan at 5 p.m.