Bolivar, Mo. – The SBU Softball team wrapped up their home schedule for the 2021 season Sunday afternoon against Illinois Springfield. The Prairie Stars won the first game by a narrow score of 1-0 in extras and took game two 8-3 to put the Bearcats at 2-36 (1-23 GLVC) on the year.
 
Game One
Reilly Rupert was on the mound for SBU and pitched a solid game. She also picked up the team's first hit in the 3^rd inning, followed by a Renae Gillmore single. However, the Prairie Stars got the third out without a run scoring. UIS had an opportunity in the 5^th inning, but Nicole Horstman threw out the runner trying to score. Horstman picked up a two out hit in the bottom of that inning, but was stranded at first. In extra innings, Illinois Springfield hit a home run to win the game 1-0.
 
Game Two
UIS got on the board first, putting a run up in the 2^nd inning. They scored three more in the 3^rd to take a 4-0 lead early on. In the bottom of the 3^rd, Renae Gillmore drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in SBU's first run. After an out, Emma Ezzell was hit by a pitch to bring home another. The visitors scored another in the 4^th, two more in the 5^th, and again in the 6^th to make the score 8-2. Meadow Vassar hit a pinch-hit RBI single to score Emma Ezzell and cut the deficit to 8-3 in the 6^th, but that would wind up being the final score.
 
Rylee Lunn was the lone Bearcat with multiple hits on the day, going 2-4 in game two. Reilly Rupert pitched all 8.0 innings of game one, surrendering just 6 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 5 and walking 1 batter.
 
The team will end their season with a road trip to Quincy and Truman State on May 1 and 2.