For the second straight day, UIS split two games against MIAA opponents in the Grand Slam Classic in Branson, Mo. The Prairie Stars completed a two-game sweep of Nebraska Kearney and dropped a decision to Washburn for the second day.
UIS 5, Nebraska Kearney 2
A two-run homer by freshman Emme Steward put the Stars ahead to stay as UIS knocked off Nebraska Kearney for the second day, this time, 5-2. The teams traded runs in the third with senior Olivia DeLuca recording the RBI for the Stars.
Steward's round tripper came in the fifth inning. The Lopers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth to pull within one. UIS added two insurance runs in the seventh with Steward getting her third RBI and sophomore Bailey Masching, her first of the day.
Senior Rosie Bartletti got the start in the circle and went three innings. Junior Alexis Carroll pitched the final four innings, giving up two hits and an unearned run, to collect the win and improve to 2-1 on the season.
"We played a pretty solid game overall and had a lot of contributions from each player," head coach Shannon Guthrie said. "It was great to have Rosie on the mound to start the game and set the tone. Alexis Carroll pitched a great game in relief going four strong innings for the win and did a great job commanding the zone. Offensively, the top of our lineup turned it on to produce runs together. Olivia had great at bats all game, and Emme Steward had the huge two-run homer to seal the game."
Washburn 11, UIS 10
In a high-scoring second game that included a combined 21 base hits, 10 errors and 16 bases on ball, Washburn scored four runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and sweep the weekend series, 11-10.
Centerfielder Sidney Sawyer led the way with three of the team's 12 hits. Shortstop Bartletti had two doubles and two RBI. Graduate student Chloe Scroggins also had two hits and two RBI. In the circle, sophomore Calista Stahlhut went the distance for the Stars. Six of the 11 Icabod runs were unearned due to the seven UIS errors.
Fifteen of the 21 runs scored came in the first three innings as the Stars emerged with an 8-7 lead. UIS added single runs in the fourth and sixth before Washburn exploded for four in the seventh to take the lead for good.
"This was a wild game for both teams," said Guthrie. "Each team had eight walks, a few errors, and a lot of offense. I thought our team battled the whole game as it went back-and-forth. Rosie did a good job in the leadoff spot of finding ways on and scoring three runs of her own, while Sidney Sawyer added three hits. I thought offensively we combined a lot of small ball and line drives together, but ultimately, we needed to clean up some things on defense to get the win. Calista gave it her best on the mound and went all seven innings in the tough loss.
"We look forward to one more non-conference series to get things tightened up before starting our tough GLVC slate."
UIS returns from Branson with a14-6 record on the season after splitting the four games in the Grand Slam Classic. The Stars travel to Columbus to face Ohio Dominican in a doubleheader on Tuesday in the final scheduled non-conference match-up of the season.