Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
GALESBURG, Illinois – The Prairie Fire bounced back from 15-5 loss in five innings with a 2-1 victory against Grinnell College in a Midwest Conference South Division doubleheader at home on Saturday.

First-year Kristen Koviekis (Tinley Park, IL, Lincoln-Way North) tossed a complete game two-hitter in the finale and sophomore Chelsey Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) snapped a 1-1 deadlock with an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning that proved to be the game-winner.

Knox (2-23, 2-9) took a 1-0 lead on a two-out, bases-loaded single by Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County) in the bottom of the first.  A pop-up on the infield left the bases loaded.

Koviekis escaped a bases-loaded jam with one out in the top of the second on a pop-up and a line drive to sophomore Kaly Davidson (Needham, MA, Needham) at shortstop.

Grinnell (3-22, 3-6) loaded the bases again with one out in the third, but the Prairie Fire doubled up the runner at second base after a fly ball to center.

The Pioneers took advantage of two errors and a wild pitch and tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the fourth.

Howard came through in the bottom of the fifth after senior Rhiannon Neuville (Eugene, OR, South Eugene) singled and moved into scoring position on a ground ball to third base.

Grinnell had another chance to score in the sixth with runners on second and third with two outs, but a ground ball to shortstop ended the threat.

Koviekis retired all three hitters in the top of the seventh on ground ball outs to seal her first win of the season.

Knox finished with eight hits.  Howard and senior Kayla Behrens (Moline, IL, Moline) had two each to lead the offense.

In the first game, the Prairie Fire had a one-run lead when the Pioneers scored seven times with two outs in the top of the third.  The big blow was a grand slam by Andi Leff to put the Pioneers in front 9-3.

Grinnell extended the lead to 11-3 in the top of the fourth.  Knox scored on RBI singles by Price and first-year Alannah Sanchez (Espanola, NM, McCurdy) to close the gap to six.

The Pioneers added four runs in the top of the fifth and worked around a lead-off walk in the bottom half to end the game in five innings.

The Prairie Fire took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run triple by Behrens, who scored on a ground ball off the bat of Howard that was misplayed by the shortstop.

Grinnell held a 14-9 edge in hits and Knox left 10 runners on base.  Koviekis and first-yearEmily Stevenson (Tinley Park, IL, Andrew) led the hosts with two hits apiece.

Sanchez took the loss in the circle.

Knox is scheduled to host Cornell College in another MWC South twinbill on Sunday.  The doubleheader has been moved up two hours because of rain in the forecast.  The first game is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m., weather permitting.