Springfield, Ill. - Despite a late rally from the Lewis University softball team, the University of Illinois Springfield held on to win, 8-7, in game two of their Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader. The Prarie Stars opened the day with a 3-0 win in game one.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)
UIS got on the board first as Bailey Masching use a sacrifice hit to bring home the hosts first run of the day in the bottom of the first.
The Prarie Stars added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as Rosie Bartletti tripled into right field, clearing the bases and making it a 3-0 affair.
Nicole Magdziasz (Tinley Park, Ill./Providence Catholic High School) accounted for the Flyers only hit of the firs game in the top of the seventh as her bunt took her safely to first base. Still, the Prarie Stars recorded the next three outs to seal the game one win.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)
Down 5-0 after three innings, the Flyers began their comeback attempt as
Katie Jensen (Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South) doubled to center field, clearing the bases and cutting the hosts lead down to two, 5-3.
UIS gained some breathing room back in the bottom half of the fourth as a bases loaded walk followed by an Olivia DeLuca single pushed the Prarie Stars back ahead, 7-3. A Chloe Scroggins sacrifice fly in the same frame made it an 8-3 ballgame after four innings.
With two runners on in the top of the fifth inning,
Erica Hoffman (Hebron, Ind./Boone Grove High School) singled into right field to bring home
Jozlynn Pacheco (/Argo Community) and
Chloe Kohnhorst (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) to cut the UIS lead down to three, 8-5. Later in the inning with the bases loaded after Jensen was hit by a pitch,
Kristen Graham (Mapleton, Ill./Illini Bluffs High School) was hit by a pitch the very next at bat, sending a runner home and moving Lewis to within two of the UIS advantage, 8-6.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Flyers found a late spark in the top of the seventh as with two outs, Graham again brought in a run, this time using a single to drive home Jensen, to make it an one run ballgame, 8-7. Still, UIS held on as the hosts didn't allow another run to seal the 8-7 win.
UP NEXT
Lewis will wrap up its 2026 campaign against nationally ranked No. 2 UIndy tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for noon.
