Springfield, Ill. –  The Maryville softball team could not get their offense going as Illinois-Springfield swept the Saints in Great Lakes Valley Conference play Sunday afternoon. The Prairie Stars held the Saints to only one hit in an 8-0 win and then the Saints were held to three hits in the nightcap as UIS took the victory 6-0.
 
Game One:
The Prairie Stars took control of the game early as they took advantage of three Saint errors over the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead. UIS tacked on two runs in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 8-0. Prairie Star pitcher Ali Haesele struck out 12 Saints batters while Courtney Ferguson picked up the only Maryville hit in the contest.
 
Winning Pitcher: Haesele (12-4)
Save: None
Losing Pitcher: Alyssa Callans (7-5)
Hitting leader: Ferguson – 1-for-2
 
Game Two: 
UIS opened the second game of the day with a pair of runs in the first inning to again take an early 2-0 lead over the Saints. The Prairie Stars added a run in the third inning and three runs in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 6-0 as Maryville was held to only three hits in the contest. The Saints had a chance to get in the scoring column in the third as Hope Miller doubled and advanced to third on a ground out, but that is a far as she went as UIS forced a groundout to end the inning.
 
Winning Pitcher: (7-4)
Save: None
Losing Pitcher: Sheridon Sprague (7-5)
Hitting leaders: Miller – 1-for-2, 2B
                            Callans – 1-for-2
                         
Records:
Maryville – 15-12-1, 3-7 GLVC
Illinois-Springfield – 20-9, 7-1 GLVC
 
Up Next – Maryville returns to Weber Field Friday, March 30, to take on William Jewell in a key Great Lakes Valley Conference match-up. First pitch is set for noon.