The Prairie Stars softball team earned a split with No. 21 McKendree on Monday afternoon, winning game one 3-0 behind a record-breaking performance from Rosie Bartletti before falling 8-4 in game two. The Prairie Stars now hold a 24-15 overall record and a 12-8 mark in GLVC play.

GAME ONE | W, 3-0

• Rosie Bartletti, the reigning Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, went head-to-head with McKendree's Sami Huck, the GLVC Pitcher of the Week. The pitching duel lived up to the billing, as Huck allowed four hits and Bartletti allowed five.
• UIS took advantage of early defensive miscues by McKendree, scoring in the opening inning. The Prairie Stars added two more in the third: Bartletti reached on an error, Taylor Zawacki singled and stole second, and Ella Brinkley delivered an RBI single. Brinkley then stole second and later came around to score on an Isabella Wilson fielder's choice.
• Bartletti was consistent throughout, including three strikeouts in both the second and fourth innings. She finished with a single-game record 14 strikeouts, shutting out a McKendree team that averages six runs per game. The Bearcats put two runners on in the seventh, but Bartletti closed the door with a swinging strikeout to seal her 14th win of the season.
• At the plate, UIS had one hit apiece from Zawacki, Brinkley, Malia Bender, and Bartletti. RBIs came from Brinkley and Wilson.

GAME TWO | L, 8-4

• The pitchers stayed dominant early in game two, as Bartletti and McKendree's Ellie Vetter kept the offenses in check through the fourth.
• McKendree broke through in the fifth, scoring five runs on a mix of singles and an error. A two-RBI double in the sixth extended the Bearcats' lead to 7-0. Vetter retired 15 straight Prairie Stars batters during that stretch, supported by a strong defense behind her.
• UIS broke through in the sixth, starting with a walk and single from Bartletti and Zawacki. Brinkley added her second hit of the game to load the bases. Malia Bender brought home the first run on a fielder's choice, and Wilson followed with a two-RBI single to cut the deficit to 7-3. Adi Rumler then singled to score Wilson, making it 7-4. UIS brought the tying run to the plate but left runners stranded on second and third. 
• McKendree tacked on one more in the seventh via a wild pitch and error to make it 8-4.
• Bartletti allowed two runs over the first 4.1 innings and fell to 14-6. Addyson McClure and Zawacki appeared in relief, with Zawacki tossing the final two innings. Brinkley led UIS offensively, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Wilson was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Up Next
The Prairie Stars return to GLVC play this weekend for a home series against Indianapolis. Saturday's games will feature Alumni Day celebrations.