The UIS softball team traveled to Fayette, Iowa, on Saturday, sweeping Upper Iowa with victories of 6-1 and 7-4 to improve to 29-16 overall and 17-9 in GLVC play. With the wins, UIS secured a spot in the GLVC tournament.

GAME ONE | W, 6-1

• The Prairie Stars struck early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Ella Brinkley led off with a single and stole second, followed by Malia Bender's walk. Both came home on an error.
• In the fourth inning, another run came across after a runner reached on an error, advanced on singles, and scored on a fielder's choice.
• UIS added three more in the fifth, highlighted by a two-RBI triple from Taylor Zawacki, who later scored on a fielder's choice. The lead increased to 6-1 in the sixth when pinch runner Rebecca Neupauer scored on a Brinkley sacrifice fly.
• Rosie Bartletti was dominant in the circle, allowing six hits and one run over seven innings with six strikeouts, improving to 18-7 on the season.
• At the plate, Brinkley and Bailey Masching each had two-hit games, and Zawacki drove in two with her triple.

GAME TWO | W, 7-4

• The second game was a closer contest, but UIS built an early lead. Addyson McClure kept Upper Iowa scoreless through the first three innings.
• The Prairie Stars exploded for five runs in the second inning. McClure singled and stole second but was caught stealing third, then Nyla Cooper and Bailey Masching drew walks. Isabella Wilson followed with a single to load the bases. Olivia DeLuca drove in a run with an RBI single, then Brinkley's sacrifice fly and Bartletti's single each brought in a run. Zawacki's double capped the inning, scoring DeLuca and Bartletti for a 5-0 lead.
• UIS added one more in the third when pinch runner Rebecca Neupauer scored on a Wilson single.
• Upper Iowa mounted a comeback in the fourth, scoring two runs on an error, a walk, and a two-RBI double. The Prairie Stars answered in the fifth with an insurance run when Neupauer scored on a bases-loaded walk.
• Upper Iowa scored an in the sixth on an RBI single, a run unearned to McClure due to a previous error in the infield. Zawacki entered in the seventh as the closer, allowing one more run on a single, but the Prairie Stars held on for the win.
• McClure earned the win, improving to 6-2 after pitching six innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out eight—her single-game best.
• Wilson went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Brinkley and Zawacki each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Up Next
The Prairie Stars will conclude the regular season with a noon doubleheader at Lewis on Sunday.