The University of Illinois Springfield softball team pulled out a pair of late-inning victories on the first day of the 2022 season. The Prairie Stars earned wins over Missouri Western and Southern Arkansas at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic.
 
In the opening game, UIS defeated Missouri Western by a 5-3 margin. The two teams were tied going into the seventh inning. The Prairie Stars had two on with two outs when Danielle Dennis hit a three-run homer. That proved to be the game-winner after the Griffons scored just one in the bottom half of the frame.
 
Payton Long threw a complete game and earned the victory on the mound. She allowed just six hits and struck out six.
 
The top five players in the lineup all scored once, including Taylor Zawacki who had two hits in her UIS debut. Kayana Diederich drove in two.
 
In the second contest, the Prairie Stars defeated No. 16 Southern Arkansas by a 6-5 score. The Prairie Stars came to at-bat in the bottom of the seventh with the score knotted at five. With two outs, Dennis doubled, and she then scored on a walk-off single by Zawacki.
 
Addyson McClure earned the win in relief. Carly Chovanec led the offense with three hits, and she scored three times.
 
UIS continues play at the event tomorrow with games against Northwest Missouri and Harding.