EAST PEORIA, IL -- After defeating two regionally ranked opponents in the first two days of the tournament, the Miners' run at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship came to an end today with a 2-0 loss to the Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars.
Sydney Anderson (Elkhart, IA/North Polk) hit a double in the second at bat of the 1st inning, as the Miners were able to get two on before a fielder's choice play by the Stars' shortstop left both runners stranded.
Mia Miller (Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) made quick work of the first two innings, getting 6 outs in 6 at bats.
The Prairie Stars recorded hits in both the third and fourth innings, the latter a double to right-center that put their first runner in scoring position. A lengthy at-bat followed, ending with a sharp line drive that
Taylor Nelson (Jefferson City, MO/Phillips Exeter Academy) snagged before firing to
Trista Grobe (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) at second base to double off the runner and end the inning.
S&T put runners in scoring position again in the top of the 5th, getting singles from
Jordyn Davis (Broken Arrow, OK/) and
Kaylee LaChappell (Oswego, IL/). The Miners had runners of first and third with two outs with
Sydney Anderson (Elkhart, IA/North Polk) batting, but UIS pitcher Taylor Zawacki didn't fold under pressure, getting Anderson to ground into a fielder's choice to survive the inning.
Illinois Springfield looked to turn their momentum from the top of the inning into runs, hitting two singles early to put runners on first and second with one out. Miller would keep the pressure on though, drawing a foul out and a fly out to send the game to the 6th tied 0-0.
Grobe hit a lead off single for the Miners in the 6th and would be joined on bases by Nelson after a throwing error by UIS. A well-executed bunt by
Tori Thompson (Chandler, AZ/) advanced the runners to give the Miners two on with one out. Zawacki stepped up again for UIS though, picking up a strikeout and a ground out to get out of another tough situation.
The Stars got on the board early in the 6th, hitting two singles, with the latter coming on a bunt that led to an S&T throwing error to allow the first run of the day. UIS would score another in the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field, extending the Stars' lead to two.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the 7th, the Miners would fail to reach base, going down in order. The Miners end their season with an overall record of 19-34 and going 16-16 against GLVC opponents.
Anderson and Miller were both named to the All-Tournament team. Anderson ended the tournament with 3 RBIs on 3 hits and Miller pitched 24.2 innings with 11 strikeouts.
