The University of Illinois Springfield softball team played two more games at the USSSA Space Coast Spring Games on Sunday, first seeing its four-win streak snapped by No. 19 ranked Nova Southeastern. then run-ruling the Mercy Mavericks 10-2 in five innings.
GAME ONE VS NOVA SOUTHEASTERN (L, 2-0)
- The game was scoreless through five innings
- Taylor Zawacki had the start before Rosie Bartletti took the reins for the final five innings
- Ramsey Armstrong and Ella Brinkley both singled, but UIS could not get the offense rolling against 7-4 Alyssa Drogemull
- The Sharks scored a run in the sixth on a sequence of an error, a double, and a sacrifice bunt
- Another run was plated in the seventh when the Sharks added up three singles
- Bartletti fell to 5-2 with the loss
- The Prairie Stars went up on a four-run second inning and never looked back. Ella Brinkley tripled with Olivia DeLuca and Jaden Watts on base, then a Malia Bender sacrifice fly sent Brinkley home
- An RBI groundout and an RBI single allowed Mercy to score two runs in response
- UIS added two insurance runs in the fourth
- The Prairie Stars found themselves with two outs quickly in the fifth inning following a Mercy pitching change. Rosie Bartletti and Sophie Margelot changed the direction of the inning when they both singled in their at bats, and then advanced on a passed ball. Olivia DeLuca then reached first base on an error while Bartletti and Margelot scored
- Jaden Watts singled and Ella Brinkley walked to load the bases. UIS went up 9-2 when Nyla Cooper was hit by a pitch, and 10-2 when Jaden Watts scored on a passed ball
- The bottom of the fifth went swiftly with two groundouts and a strikeout
- Alexis Carroll improved to 5-2
UIS will play four more games at the tournament following a day off on Monday. The Prairie Stars are set for doubleheaders against Felician on Tuesday and West Chester on Wednesday before returning to the Prairie State.