Bolivar, Mo. – The Bearcats hosted the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars for a double header on Monday. In the future GLVC matchup, the Prairie Stars took both games, gathering just 6 hits. Game one finished with a score of 1-0, and game two ended 3-1. The losses move SBU to 3-16 (0-0 MIAA) on the year.
 
Game One
Maddie Massanelli started the game for SBU, retiring the first three batters in order. With one out in the bottom of the first, Paige St. Pierre drew a walk and advanced to second on a ground out, but she was stranded there. The Prairie Stars gained a baserunner on a hit by pitch in the second, but Massanelli kept up her stellar pitching, getting out of the inning unharmed. Paige St. Pierre broke the UIS no-hitter in the third, singling to right center, but she wouldn't come around to score.
 
The Prairie Stars got their one and only hit of the game in the fourth inning, a home run to take a 1-0 lead. In the Bearcats' half of the fourth inning, Sam Moran led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out, but she was stranded there as the inning came to an end. The fifth started in a similar manner, Kori Hillenburg leading off with a double. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, but she too was stranded at third. SBU was unable to generate any more offense before the end of the game, ending with a 1-0 score.
 
Maddie Massanelli pitched all 7 innings, giving up one run on just one hit. She struck out 7 batters and forced 11 fly outs. Paige St. Pierre, Sam Moran, and Kori Hillenburg were responsible for SBU's hits in game one.
 
Game Two
The second game was another pitching and defensive duel. Kaylee Schmidli sat down the first three batters with a strikeout, a ground out, and a lineout. In the second, the Prairie Stars gained some momentum, getting runners to second and third, but Schmidli got the Bearcats out of the jam, getting two strikeouts and a ground out. Sam Moran put the Bearcats on the hits column, driving a single to left field.
 
Illinois Springfield did all of their damage in the 5^th inning, scoring three to take a 3-0 lead. Kori Hillenburg tried to spark the SBU offense, doubling down the left field line to lead off their half of the fifth. Although the Bearcats managed to get another baserunner, they were unable to get any to cross the plate. SBU continued their momentum, loading the bases in the 6^th, but the Prairie Stars got out of the inning. In the 7^th, Megan Schellert sparked some life into the Bearcats, reaching on an error by the 3^rd baseman. After a second out, Kaitlyn Bagby reached on an infield hit, moving Schellert to second. Miranda Aguilar then hit a ball to the shortstop who to tried to get Schellert out at third, but everyone was safe, loading the bases. Sam Moran followed with a single to the shortstop, driving in Schellert to make the score 3-1, but UIS put a stop to the momentum, ending the game 3-1.
 
Kaitlyn Bagby went 2-4 at the plate, and Sam Moran also collected two hits, going 2-3 with a walk and an RBI. Lauren Strobel and Kori Hillenburg were responsible for the other Bearcat hits.
 
The Bearcats open up conference play in their next competition, taking on Northwest Missouri State in Maryville on Friday, March 15 starting at 1 PM.