The University of Illinois Springfield softball team split a pair of games on day one of the Lewis Dome Invitational. The Prairie Stars defeated Purdue Northwest 8-7, and lost to Saginaw Valley State by a 6-1 score.
 
In the opener, Lakyn Wagoner had another late-inning heroics. With the two teams tied at four in the top of the seventh, she hit a grand slam for what proved to be the winning runs in the contest. Purdue Northwest scored three times in the seventh, but couldn't answer the fourth tally.
 
Wagoner had three hits, six RBI and two runs in the contest. Carly Chovanec, Bree Derhake, and Jillian Mathis all had two hits. Derhake scored three times, and Chovanec had two runs. Addison Bryant earned the win, throwing a complete game and striking out seven.
 
In the second game, Saginaw State scored the first six runs over the first four innings for the win. UIS's only run came in the sixth when Chovanec scored on an attempted double steal.
 
UIS will face Hillsdale on Friday on day two of the tournament.