The llinois Springfield softball team swept the Quincy Hawks in dominant fashion Sunday. The Prairie Stars (12-9, 2-2 GLVC) erupted for a 20-0 run-rule victory in five innings in game one, then rallied late to take the second game, 7-5.
GAME ONE | W, 20-0 (5 innings)
- UIS set the tone early, scoring six runs in the first inning. Koral Keehner drove in two runs with a double to left field, and Nyla Cooper followed with a two-run single to push the lead further.
- The Prairie Stars kept the pressure on in the second inning, as Cooper reached base on an error, allowing Keehner and Malia Bender to score. In the third, Bender grounded out to shortstop to bring in Isabella Wilson.
- UIS broke the game open with a big fourth inning, scoring 10 runs. Addyson McClure tripled to right field, driving in two, and later homered, bringing in three more. McClure finished 2-for-2, adding five RBIs to lead the offense.
- Rosie Bartletti (5-4) turned in a dominant performance in the circle, tossing four shutout innings, allowing just two hits, and striking out two. Addy Girard closed the fifth inning to seal the run-rule victory.
GAME TWO | W, 7-5
- Quincy put up more of a fight in the second game, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning after taking advantage of a pair of wild pitches and an error. UIS quickly responded, tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom half, with Ella Brinkley driving in a run on a sacrifice fly, Bartletti adding an RBI single, and McClure bringing in the tying run on another sacrifice fly.
- After Quincy briefly regained the lead in the third, UIS pulled even in the fifth on an RBI infield single from McClure.
- The Prairie Stars then took control in the sixth, as Sophie Rivera singled, and Adi Rumler doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Keehner's sacrifice fly brought in the go-ahead run, and Jacy Watts added another sacrifice fly for insurance.
- Bartletti (6-4) earned her second win of the day, tallying three strikeouts and not allowing a hit. McClure started in the circle, allowing five runs, three earned, over 2.2 innings, while Alexis Carroll tossed 2.1 scoreless frames in relief.
The Prairie Stars (12-9, 2-2 GLVC) will take a break from conference play to host Parkside at the UIS Softball Complex on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.