The UIS softball team (13-5) split a pair of non-conference games on the opening day of the Grand Slam Classic in Branson, Mo., falling to Washburn (23-4) in the opener, then edging Nebraska Kearney (9-14) in the second contest.
 
Washburn 7, UIS 0
 
UIS picked up its first hit of the game, a Sidney Sawyer single, in the fifth inning. In the next inning, the Stars has their biggest threat when with two outs Kate Feld singled, Rosie Bartletti doubled and Jaden Watts picked up a bunt single to load the bases. A fielder's choice ended the inning.
 
Alexis Carroll, Elizabeth Grube and Addy Girard each pitched two innings with the starter Carroll getting the loss to even her record at 1-1. The Ichabods scored three in the second, two in the third and two more in the fourth.
 
"Washburn jumped out to a big start, and we did not respond in time to get ourselves back in the game," said head coach Shannon Guthrie. "It was great to see Sidney get our offense started, and she had solid at bats all game along with great defense in center field. Addy Girard did a nice job of throwing two scoreless innings in relief. Our best opportunity to put runs up was when Kate, Rosie and Jaden each got hits to load the bases; we just did not find a way to get the runs across in this game."
 
UIS 5, Nebraska Kearney 4
 
Down 1-0 entering the bottom of the first, shortstop Bailey Masching plated two runs with a triple to give UIS the edge. Pitcher Calista Stahlhut helped her cause with an RBI hit. The Stars led 4-1 after the first. There was no more scoring until Rosie Bartletti scored on a Olivia DeLuca sacrifice in the fourth inning for a 5-1 edge. The Lopers threatened to take the lead in the seven, getting to Stahlhut for the first time, scoring three runs. Bartletti came on in relief and picked up the final two outs of the game, earning her first save of the season.
 
"I was very happy to see us respond right away in the bottom of the first inning after going down 1-0," said Guthrie about the matchup with UNK. "The top of the line up worked very well together to get on base and then we got big hits from the middle of our order as Emme, Bailey, and Calista each had big line drive RBI at bats. Calista settled in nicely and got a lot of quick outs. We got the extra run we needed in the fifth as Rosie and Liv worked together to scratch one more across. This was key as Kearney made a comeback in the seventh to get within one. Rosie Bartletti and Rachel McMullen came in as a battery to get a big save, and both made key plays to end it."
 
The Prairie Stars face the same two teams on day two of the tournament on Saturday, matching up with Nebraska Kearney at 9 a.m. followed by a game with Washburn at 11 a.m.