The University of Illinois Springfield softball program no-hit Minnesota State Moorhead on Thursday at LOLJOS as part of a doubleheader sweep over the Dragons. The no-hitter was the 200th career victory for head coach Shannon Guthrie.
 
Payton Long started the five-inning no-hitter and threw three perfect innings, including six strikeouts. Addyson McClure came in relief in the fourth. Minnesota State Moorhead had its only runners of the game in that inning, with two reaching on an error and a walk. McClure got out of the jam though with a strikeout. McClure then threw a one-two-three fifth inning to clinch the combined no-hitter.
 
Offensively, UIS broke a 1-0 game open with five runs in the third, and then scored two more in the fourth, setting up the squad to win by the run-rule. Kelsie Burrows had two hits and two runs, and Zoie Bowman drove in two runners. The Prairie Stars had a balanced offense, with seven players having a run and seven having at least one hit.
 
In the second game, UIS scored two runs in the first inning, and never trailed. Jillian Mathis added a two-run homer in the third and the Prairie Stars added another tally in the fifth.
 
UIS was dominant again on the mound, allowing just four hits and the solo run. Reagan Miles earned the win, after pitching the first four innings. Courtney Blackwell and Kayana Diederich pitched the final three innings, and combined to not allow a hit or run.
 
Offensively, the team's top three hitters of Danielle Dennis, Carly Chovanec, and Mathis combined for three hits, three runs, and four RBI.
 
Guthrie picked up her milestone win in her eighth season at the Prairie Stars head coach. The top softball coach in program history now has 201 victories in her career that also includes one GLVC Regular Season Championship, two NCAA Division II Regional Championship appearances, and one NCAA Division II Super Regional showing.
 
UIS is now 16-8 on the season. The Prairie Stars will be in action again on Sunday at McKendree.