The UIS softball team wrapped up its weekend at the Music City Classic with a competitive showing, pushing No. 17 Trevecca Nazarene to extra innings before falling 2-1, then closing out play with a 6-1 win over Ashland. The Prairie Stars finished the weekend with a 3-1 record.
Game One vs. No. 17 Trevecca Nazarene | L, 2-1 (8 innings)
- UIS struck first against the nationally ranked Trojans, as Taylor Zawacki drove in Isabella Wilson on a sacrifice fly in the first inning. The Prairie Stars' defense responded by retiring Trevecca in order in the bottom half.
- Zawacki was dominant in the circle, racking up three strikeouts in the second inning alone, but Trevecca managed to tie the game at 1-1. From there, the contest turned into a pitcher's duel, with both teams trading scoreless frames.
- Trevecca threatened in the sixth, loading the bases, but Zawacki escaped the jam with her 11th strikeout of the day. With the score still knotted at 1-1 upon the end of the seventh, the game moved into extra innings, where both teams started with a runner on second.
- In the top of the eighth, UIS pinch-runner Addyson McClure advanced to third on a Jacy Watts groundout but was left stranded. Trevecca executed a sacrifice bunt to move their runner to third before delivering a walk-off single to seal the 2-1 win.
- Zawacki's stellar performance in the circle kept UIS in the fight, as she struck out 13 batters, tying her own UIS single-game strikeout record.
- Alexis Carroll started in the circle for UIS, working around a leadoff walk to record three groundouts in the first inning. Ashland broke through in the second with an RBI double, but a clutch defensive play from third baseman Ella Brinkley to catcher Jacy Watts cut down a potential second run at the plate, keeping the deficit at 1-0.
- The Prairie Stars quickly responded. Malia Bender walked, stole second, and advanced home on a throwing error during Rosie Bartletti's steal attempt, tying the game at 1-1.
- Addyson McClure took over pitching duties in the third, and the UIS defense stepped up behind her, recording all three outs in the field, including a key double play. The Prairie Stars threatened in the bottom half but left two runners stranded.
- UIS broke the game open in the fourth. Singles by Jaden Watts and Koral Keehner set the stage before Brinkley delivered an RBI single to score Watts. Keehner then crossed home on a wild pitch. The scoring continued when an Ashland defensive miscue allowed Zawacki, Wilson, and Brinkley to score, extending the lead.
- Ashland posed a threat in the fifth but left runners stranded. UIS countered with pressure of its own, though the inning ended on a pair of strikeouts.
- McClure remained steady, retiring Ashland in order in the sixth. UIS saw some pinch hitters enter in the bottom of the frame but was also set down in order. In its final defensive stand, UIS closed things out with a groundout, a pop fly, and another grounder to secure the victory.
- McClure earned the win, throwing five scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no runs allowed.
UIS travels to Bentonville, Ark., next weekend for the Alvy Early Memorial Classic, where they will face Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri on Friday, followed by matchups against Washburn and Missouri Southern on Saturday.