The University of Illinois Springfield softball team competed in Midwest Regional action in Indianapolis this week. UIS fell 3-0 to the Lewis Flyers in their first matchup of the double elimination tournament. The Prairie Stars went on to take down GMAC Champion Hillsdale before meeting Lewis again and falling out of the tournament after a 6-5 loss. 

UIS vs. Lewis (L, 0-3)
The Prairie Stars were put to the task of taking down the GLVC Tournament Champions on Thursday in their first game of the Midwest Regional. The Flyers' pitcher Delaney Garden (17-7) threw a shutout, allowing the Prairie Stars just three hits. 

The Prairie Stars offense was closest to scoring when Danielle Dennis doubled to left center in the top of the 4th inning. She advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Klinzing, but did not make it home. The Flyers scored for the first time on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 4th. Lewis scored two more runs in the 6th, and UIS had its final two hits in the top of the 7th but did not produce a run. 

Reagan Miles fell to 13-7 with the loss after going five and one-third innings. Lewis was held to six hits but managed three runs. 

UIS vs. Hillsdale (W, 5-0)
The Prairie Stars then took on the GMAC Champion Hillsdale Chargers in an elimination game. 

Taylor Zawacki started off in the 1st with an RBI single. Three Prairie Stars were walked in that inning and two stole bases. UIS kept it going in the second when Rosie Bartletti singled, stole second, and scored on a double by Danielle Dennis. It was then a scoreless game for four innings.

The Prairie Stars tallied three hits and three runs in the top of the 7th. Ashley Klinzing and Isabella Wilson singled while Addyson McClure hit her third double of the spring. UIS outhit Hillsdale 10-5 to stay in the fight and return for a late afternoon game. 

Reagan Miles struck out two Chargers in her first inning in the circle on Friday and Rosie Bartletti struck out two in the last inning of the game. Miles pitched the first three and one-third innings to earn the win (14-7) before Rosie Bartletti took the final three and two-thirds. 

The Chargers did not score a run in their regional berth, and UIS advanced to meet the Lewis Flyers once again. 

UIS vs. Lewis (L, 6-5)
UIS put up five runs in three innings to put the Flyers behind. They started with four hits and two runs in the 1st, then put up three more in the third.  The Flyers scored one run in the 2nd on a double and another in the 4th due to a home run. 

Taylor Zawacki went the first four and one-third innings before being relieved by Rosie Bartletti. Lewis managed four hits in the top of the 5th where three runners scored on a fielding error to take back the lead. UIS grounded out twice in their next turn to hit, and the last batter struck out. They attempted to rally in the 6th with two singles and advanced runners as far as third base, but it was not a fruitful inning for the Stars. UIS then grounded out three times in the bottom of the seventh to drop the game.

Lewis went on to fall to the Indianapolis Greyhounds on Saturday.

The loss put an end to a successful spring season for Prairie Stars softball. UIS went 34-24 and 14-10 in GLVC play while also claiming nine All-GLVC awards. They picked up regular season wins over successful GLVC teams including McKendree, Lewis, and UMSL and ranked as high as No. 4 in the Midwest Region.