Ella Brinkley's leadoff home run set the tone for the day as the UIS softball team triumphed in both games against Purdue Northwest at Spartan Sports Park. The Prairie Stars won the first game 4-2 and secured a 5-4 victory in the second.
GAME ONE | W, 4-2
- In the opening contest, UIS jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first inning. Ella Brinkley started the scoring with a solo home run, followed by Malia Bender's two-run homer to right field that brought Taylor Zawacki across the plate.
- The Prairie Stars would add one more in the third inning when Rosie Bartletti doubled to score Zawacki, giving UIS a 4-0 lead.
- Purdue Northwest threatened in the sixth inning, plating two runs off of a single by Emily Fair that scored Katie Dugan and Alana DeBoer, but it wasn't enough to overcome the UIS lead.
- Bartletti, who pitched a complete game, earned the win after allowing two runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts. Purdue Northwest's Rachel Gick (0-2) took the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits while striking out four in six innings of work.
- In the second game, Purdue Northwest took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a fielder's choice from Gianna Giordano. UIS quickly responded in the third when Zawacki advanced to third on a catcher's error and then made it home safely. The game was tied at 1-1, but Purdue Northwest regained the lead in the fourth with a pair of unearned runs.
- UIS responded in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the deficit to 3-2 on a sacrifice fly from Hailey Niebrugge. UIS then took its first lead in the fifth inning when Bender's sacrifice fly scored Zawacki, followed by Bartletti's stolen base allowing Zawacki to score again for a 4-3 lead.
- In the final inning, Bartletti tripled to score Bender, giving the Prairie Stars a 5-4 victory.
- Alexis Carroll (2-0) earned the win in relief for UIS, allowing one run on two hits in 3.1 innings. Purdue Northwest's Hannah Charmat (1-1) took the loss after giving up three runs on five hits in two innings.
The Prairie Stars improve to 7-7 on the season, while Purdue Northwest falls to 1-7. UIS will look to continue its strong start on Saturday against Lake Erie, an 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at the 2025 Springfield Invite.