The University of Illinois Springfield softball team had a hot start offensively to the Blue Bridge Battle Tournament in Owensboro, Ky. The Prairie Stars won their first game of the weekend by a 12-1 score over Notre Dame College.
 
In four innings, UIS had 12 hits, drew seven walks, and had nine stolen bases. The Prairie Stars put the game away with eight runs in the bottom of the fourth in an inning in which they had eight hits.
 
Danielle Dennis and Carolyn Franke each had three RBI, and Ramsey Armstrong drove in two. Carly Chovanec had three runs, and Dennis scored twice. Chovanec, Franke, and Kayana Diederich all had two hits. Dennis and Franke both had a double.
 
Defensively, Diederich earned the win after going four innings and allowing just three hits and one run. She struck out five in the game. Addyson McClure pitched a one-two-three fifth inning, including one strikeout.
 
With the win, UIS is now 7-1 on the season. The Prairie Stars will face Wheeling and Ashland on Saturday at the event.