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2015 Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic
March 17-21 Fort Myers & Cape Coral, FL

GAME #8 vs. University of Wisconsin-Superior (3/21/15)   Box Score
Knox saw a big lead evaporate in a 9-8 loss to UW-Superior that concluded the team's the week in Florida.

The Prairie Fire put together their best offensive game to date and had the Yellowjackets in an 8-1 hole after scoring five runs in the top of the fourth.

Sophomore Chelsey Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) singled to drive in the first run of the game in the top of the first.  Senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) slashed a two-run double in the second for a 3-0 Knox lead.  UW-Superior got on the board with a run in the bottom of the third after retiring the Prairie Fire in order for the first time in the top half of the inning.

First-year Emily Stevenson (Tinley Park, IL, Andrew) was hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth and advanced to second base on a passed ball.  Behrens doubled home Stevenson to extend the lead to 5-1.  After a single and a stolen base by senior Rhiannon Neuville (Eugene, OR, South Eugene), first-year Dominique Scott (Oak Park, IL, Oak Park & River Forest) cleared the bases with a triple.  She came around to score the eighth run of the game on an error.

UW-Superior (14-3) stormed back with six runs in the bottom of the fourth to the deficit to 8-7.  An unearned run in the fifth tied the game, 8-8, and an RBI single that followed turned out to be the deciding run.

Knox posted a season-high 10 hits, but only two after the big fourth inning.

Neuville went 3-for-5 with two runs scored while Behrens and Scott combined for six runs batted in to lead the Prairie Fire.

Knox opens Midwest Conference play with a doubleheader at Monmouth College on Saturday, March 28.  The first game of the twinbill starts at 1:00 p.m.


GAME #7 vs. University of Wisconsin-Platteville (3/21/15)   Box Score
UW-Platteville defeated the Prairie Fire 9-1 in five innings at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.

The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the first and pushed the advantage to 4-0 in the second.

Knox (0-7) broke the ice in the top of the fourth when sophomore Kaly Davidson (Needham, MA, Needham) singled in senior Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County).  UW-Platteville (7-6) answered with a tally in the bottom of the fourth, and then ended the contest with two, two-run home runs in the fifth frame.

The Prairie Fire outhit the Pioneers 8-6, but left seven runners on base.  Platteville stranded only two runners thanks to five extra-base hits in the game.

First-year Kristen Koviekis (Tinley Park, IL, Lincoln-Way North) and sophomore Chelsey Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) had two hits apiece, and senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) reached base twice with a single and a walk.

The Prairie Fire finish up play in Florida against University of Wisconsin-Superior on Saturday at 11:00 am (ET) in Cape Coral.


GAME #6 vs. Alfred State College (3/20/15)   Box Score
The Prairie Fire concluded a tough day on Friday with a 12-0, no-hit loss against Alfred State in five innings at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.

After scoring a combined 17 runs in the last three games, Knox couldn't get anything going on offense against the Pioneers.

Alfred State (1-11) put the pressure on early, drawing three straight walks in the top of the first.  First-year pitcher Kristen Koviekis (Tinley Park, IL, Lincoln-Way North) set down the clean-up hitter on strikes, but back-to-back errors allowed all three baserunners to score.  A two-out triple brought in two more runs for a 5-0 lead by the Pioneers.

The Prairie Fire (0-6) had only two baserunners through the first three innings, and by then Alfred State had built an 11-0 lead.  One more run in the top of the fifth rounded out the scoring in the game.

Knox concludes the spring break trip on Saturday with games scheduled against UW-Platteville at 9:00 am (ET) and UW-Superior at 11:00 am (ET), both at Cape Coral Sports Complex.


GAME #5 vs. Stevens Institute of Technology (3/20/15)   Box Score
The Prairie Fire couldn't knock undefeated Stevens off course, falling 17-5 in five innings at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.

Knox got off to a good start with two runs in the top of the first.  A bases-loaded walk to senior Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County) forced in the first run, followed by an infield error that brought sophomore Chelsey Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) home for the 2-0 lead.

Stevens (9-0) answered with a five runs in the home half of the first, two in the second, and five more in the third to race ahead 12-2.

The Prairie Fire loaded the bases again in the top of the fourth after the Ducks retired the first two hitters.  Senior Rhiannon Neuville (Eugene, OR, South Eugene) drew a walk and advanced to third on a double by senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline).  They both scored on a ball off the bat of Howard that was misplayed by the right fielder.  First-year Dominique Scott (Oak Park, IL, Oak Park & River Forest) singled in Howard to make the score 12-5.

The Ducks tacked on another five runs in the bottom of the fourth and ended the game with three straight strikeouts in the top of the fifth.

Stevens outhit Knox 15-7 in the contest.

Howard went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a stolen base for the Prairie Fire.  Scott added two hits, an RBI, and a steal.

Knox plays Alfred State in the second game of the day on Friday at 11:00 am (ET).


GAME #4 vs. Lasell College (3/18/15)
Lasell scored six runs in the sixth inning and defeated the Prairie Fire 11-7 at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.

The Lasers (3-4) got on the board with two runs in the top of the second and extended their lead to 5-0 with three more in the fourth frame.

Knox (0-4) responded in the bottom of the fifth, sending seven runs across on three hits and seven walks by Lasell pitching.  Seniors Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County) and Claire Neri (Melrose Park, IL, West Leyden) drew back-to-back walks with the bases loaded to force in the tying and lead runs for the Prairie Fire.  First-year Emily Stevenson (Tinley Park, IL, Andrew), who stole home earlier in the inning, added an RBI single for a 7-5 advantage.

The Lasers came back with six runs in the top of the sixth to regain the lead at 11-7.

First-year Dominique Scott (Oak Park, IL, Oak Park & River Forest) and Price both singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh before Lasell retired the next three batters, ending the game.

The Prairie Fire finished with eight hits, including a team-high three by Stevenson – who also had two stolen bases.  Scott added two hits and an RBI.

Knox resumes play on Friday against Stevens Institute of Technology (9:00 am ET) and Alfred State College (11:00 am ET) in Cape Coral.


GAME #3 vs. Nichols College (3/18/15)
The Prairie Fire used a big third inning to take the lead but couldn't hold on in an 8-5 loss to Nichols at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.

Knox came alive on offense, scoring five runs with two outs in the bottom of the third to erase a 4-0 deficit.  Senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) and sophomore Chelsey Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) slugged back-to-back, two-run doubles to tie the game.  The Prairie Fire grabbed a 5-4 lead on a double by senior Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County) that plated Howard.

The Bison (4-5) evened the score with an unearned run in the top half of the fourth, and then reclaimed the lead for good with two more in the sixth inning.

Knox had two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, but a pop fly to the pitcher and a foul ball out to right field ended the threat.  Nichols didn't allow another baserunner the rest of the way.

Senior Rhiannon Neuville (Eugene, OR, South Eugene) reached base three times for the Prairie Fire with two hits and a walk.


GAME #2 vs. Franklin & Marshall College (3/17/15)
Franklin & Marshall put up crooked numbers in three different innings and defeated the Prairie Fire 10-1 at the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers.

The Diplomats (5-1) scored three runs in both the first and second innings, and extended the lead to 10-0 with four more in the bottom of the fourth.  Knox (0-2) avoided the shutout with a two-out triple by senior Rhiannon Neuville (Eugene, OR, South Eugene) that scored sophomore Molly Lascelles (Ipava, IL, VIT) in the top of the fifth.

F&M held the Prairie Fire to four hits.  Two came off the bat of first-year Dominique Scott (Oak Park, IL, Oak Park & River Forest), including a double to lead off the fifth inning.

First-year Kristen Koviekis (Tinley Park, IL, Lincoln-Way North) took the loss in the circle.  She allowed six runs (five earned), three hits, and walked six in two innings.  First-year Emily Stevenson (Tinley Park, IL, Andrew) came on in relief and worked the last two innings.

Knox faces Nichols College and Lasell College on Wednesday at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.  The game against Nichols is scheduled at 9:00 am (ET) followed by the contest against Lasell at 11:00 am (ET).


GAME #1 vs. Salem State University (3/17/15) 
The Prairie Fire fell behind against Salem State early and couldn't recover in a 13-3 season-opening loss at the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers.

The Vikings (7-2) followed a four run first inning with six in the second to put Knox in a 10-0 hole.  After stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, the Prairie Fire got another shot in the second inning.  Senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) delivered a two-out, two-run single to make it a 10-2 game.

Salem State added to its lead with a run in the top of the third.  Knox scored again in the bottom of the fourth after first-year Kristen Koviekis (Tinley Park, IL, Lincoln-Way North) doubled and came around to score on a passed ball.

The Vikings plated the final two runs of the contest in the fifth inning.

Six players each tallied one hit for the Prairie Fire.  First-year Dominique Scott (Oak Park, IL, Oak Park & River Forest) walked twice and Koviekis scored a pair of runs.

Koviekis also pitched all five innings for Knox and was charged with the loss.