The University of Illinois Springfield softball team opened up the 2021 season on Friday at the Dome Invitational in Rosemont, Ill. The Prairie Stars dropped contests against Findlay and Northwood.
 
In the opener, UIS lost to Findlay by a 4-3 margin. Findlay broke a 3-3 tie with a run in the bottom of the third, and neither team scored the rest of the game.
 
Kelsie Burrows had a big collegiate debut by going three-for-three, and she scored a run. Natalie Cokel had one hit and one run. Ashley Klinzing had the other run, and Addison Bryant and Carolyn Franke had one RBI apiece.
 
In the second game, UIS led 4-2 after three innings, before Northwood broke the game open after that with 13 runs in the last four innings.
 
The Prairie Stars had seven hits from seven different players. Calla Wickenhauser and Grace Harris both had one run and one RBI. Cokel had an extra base hit with a double, and she also scored a run.
 
UIS continues play at the event on Saturday against Ferris State and Grand Valley State.