The University of Illinois Springfield softball team had to attempt a pair of comebacks on Friday against Rockhurst. In game one, the Prairie Stars were successful in a 13-11 victory. In the second contest, they came up just short in a 5-4 loss.
 
Rockhurst opened up an 8-3 lead in game one, but UIS came back with five runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. The Hawks got within two runs in the sixth inning, but Courtney Blackwell entered the game in the seventh and retired the Hawks in order.
 
Taylor Zawacki gave UIS a boost off the bench by hitting three doubles in her three at-bats, and she scored two of those times. The top three in the lineup of Carly Chovanec, Ella Brinkley, and Danielle Dennis combined for eight hits, three RBI, and seven runs. Chovanec and Dennis both had three hits, and Brinkley drove in three. Grace Harris had two hits and two RBI, and Carolyn Franke had one hit, two runs, and two RBI.
 
In the second game, UIS trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh. A two-run homer by Chovanec got the tying run up, but the Prairie Stars couldn't get any closer than that.
 
Reagan Miles kept Rockhurst's high-powered offense in check for most of the game, but the Hawks had three extra-base hit in the sixth, including a two-run homer that proved to be the difference.
 
Franke added two more RBI in the second game, and Chovanec had a team-high three hits. Laney Gowin also had a pair of hits in game two.
 
UIS is now 29-14 on the season and 13-9 in GLVC play. The Prairie Stars have their final home games of the season on Saturday at Spartan Park with a noon doubleheader against Southwest Baptist.