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2015 Midwest Conference Softball Classic
Janesville Youth Sports Complex
April 10-12 in Janesville, Wis.

Game #5 vs. Beloit College Box Score
The Prairie Fire were hit with a seven-run blitz by Beloit in the first inning and lost 11-2 on Sunday.?

After striking out the side in the top of the first, the Buccaneers plated four runs in the bottom of the first before an out was recorded.  Three more runs crossed the plate before first-year pitcher Alannah Sanchez (Espanola, NM, McCurdy) struck out the 13th batter in the inning with the bases loaded.

Beloit hurler Jen Zucker struck out the first six Knox batters.  She didn't allow a baserunner until first-year Emily Stevenson (Tinley Park, IL, Andrew) walked with one out in the top of the third.  Zucker retired the next two hitters on strikes.

The Bucs (10-17, 4-3 MWC) added four runs in the bottom of the third to stretch the lead to 11-0.

Senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) had the first hit for Knox with a single in the top of the fourth.

The Prairie Fire (1-20, 1-8 MWC) prevented a shutout when Sanchez singled to lead off the fifth and came around to score on an error.  Senior Rhiannon Neuville (Eugene, OR, South Eugene) drove in the second run of the game with a bases-loaded single up the middle.  A fly ball to center and a strikeout, Zucker's 11th, secured the five inning victory for Beloit.

First-year Kristen Koviekis (Tinley Park, IL, Lincoln-Way North) also had a hit in the fifth inning.  She pitched the last two innings in relief of Sanchez, who received the loss.

Knox resumes play with a non-conference doubleheader at home against Benedictine University-Springfield on Thursday.  The first game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.

 
Game #4 vs. St. Norbert College
St. Norbert allowed only two hits after the first inning and defeated the Prairie Fire 8-1 in the second set of games between MWC North and South Division teams on Saturday.

The Green Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the top of the first.  First-year pitcher Alannah Sanchez (Espanola, NM, McCurdy) got out of a bases-loaded jam by inducing a ground ball to force the runner at second base for the third out.

Knox tied the game in the bottom of the first on a two-out bunt single by first-year Dominique Scott (Oak Park, IL, Oak Park & River Forest) that scored senior Rhiannon Neuville (Eugene, OR, South Eugene).

St. Norbert (9-12, 4-1 MWC) regained the lead for good at 3-1 on a two-run double in the top of the second inning.

The Prairie Fire (1-19, 1-7 MWC) didn't get another hit until Sanchez singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth, trailing 7-1.  She was stranded at third base after three straight ground ball outs.

Another run-scoring double in the top of the sixth for the Knights widened the lead to 8-1.

Knox tried to push another run across in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Chelsey Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) attempted to score from second on a single to left by sophomore Kaly Davidson (Needham, MA, Needham).  The throw home beat Howard for the second out, followed by a ground ball to short that retired the side.

The Prairie Fire had another shot in the seventh inning with runners on second and third with one out, but two ground ball outs left them stranded in scoring position.

St. Norbert outhit Knox 10-4 in the contest.  Both teams left eight runners on base.

Sanchez pitched the first three innings and was saddled with the loss.  She surrendered six runs (three earned) on five hits, walked six and struck out one.

The last game for the Prairie Fire in the MWC Classic is against Beloit College at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

 
Game #3 vs. Carroll University
The Prairie Fire went without a hit in a 15-0 loss to Carroll in Saturday's first game for both teams at the MWC Classic.

Knox (1-18, 1-6 MWC) also had a tough day in the field with nine errors, including two in the top of the first inning that led to a pair of runs by the Pioneers.

A three-run homer in the top of the third extended the Carroll lead to 5-0.  First-year Emily Stevenson (Tinley Park, IL, Andrew) drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the third, the first Prairie Fire baserunner of the game.  She was left stranded when the next two hitters went down on strikes.

The Pioneers (16-7, 5-0 MWC) added two runs in the fifth followed by an eight-run outburst in the top of the sixth to go up 15-0.  Only two of Carroll's 10 runs during the stretch were earned as a result of seven fielding miscues by Knox.

The only other Prairie Fire baserunner was sophomore Molly Lascelles (Ipava, IL, VIT), who walked with one out in the bottom of the sixth.  The Pioneers recorded the last two outs on ground balls hit to the pitcher.

First-year pitcher Alannah Sanchez (Espanola, NM, McCurdy) took the loss.  She gave up five runs (four earned), four hits, and two walks with one strikeout over 2.1 innings.  First-year Kristen Koviekis (Tinley Park, IL, Lincoln-Way North) and senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) teamed up to finish the game in the circle.

Knox plays its last game of the day against St. Norbert College.


Game #2 vs. Lawrence University
Lawrence broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning and went on to defeat the Prairie Fire 7-0 in the second game for both teams on Friday.

First-year pitcher Alannah Sanchez (Espanola, NM, McCurdy) surrendered only three hits through the first four innings.  But the Vikings (14-6, 3-1 MWC) came alive in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on five hits to take control.

The lone hit for Knox (1-17, 1-5 MWC) after the fifth inning was a bunt single by first-year Dominique Scott (Oak Park, IL, Oak Park & River Forest).  Lawrence added three runs in the bottom of the sixth, all with two outs, to close out the game's scoring.

Scott also doubled in the game and had two of the Prairie Fire's three hits.  Sophomore Kaly Davidson (Needham, MA, Needham) had the other.

Sanchez was charged with the loss after she pitched 5.2 innings.

Knox resumes play on Saturday against Carroll University at 11:00 a.m. and St. Norbert College at 1:00 p.m.


Game #1 vs. Ripon College
A grand slam by senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) in the fourth inning lifted the Prairie Fire to a 13-5 win against Ripon in the first game for both squads on Friday.

Behrens homered with one out after the Red Hawks (4-16, 1-4 MWC) plated three runs in the top of the fourth to force a 5-5 tie.  She went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk, three runs scored, and four RBI.

First-year pitcher Alannah Sanchez (Espanola, NM, McCurdy) allowed only one baserunner over the final two innings to earn her first win of the season.

Knox (1-16, 1-4) tacked on four runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game by the mercy rule.

The Prairie Fire had a season-high 12 hits and drew five walks – all after Ripon retired the first three hitters of the game in order.

The Red Hawks jumped in front early with two runs in the top of the second inning.  A run-scoring single by senior Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County) in the Knox half of the second made it 2-1.

Ripon had a chance to add on to its slim lead with the bases loaded and one out in the third frame, but Sanchez got the next two batters to hit the ball on the ground and escaped the jam.

The Prairie Fire sent four runs across in the bottom of the third for a 5-2 lead.  The big blow was a two-run double by first-year Dominique Scott (Oak Park, IL, Oak Park & River Forest) after the first two runs scored on an error and a passed ball.

Scott had three hits, three RBI, and scored three runs for Knox.  Sophomore Chelsey Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg), first-year Emily Stevenson (Tinley Park, IL, Andrew), and sophomore Molly Lascelles (Ipava, IL, VIT) added two hits each.  Price drove in two runs and reached base twice.

The Prairie Fire meet Lawrence in the second game of the day at 5:00 p.m.