GALESBURG, Illinois - On a chilly spring day, the Knox College Prairie Fire softball team took on MacMurray College at home.
Patience was key early on in game one. The Prairie Fire walked four times in the bottom of the first inning, showing some good discipline at the plate. Those walks helped set up runs as the Prairie Fire crossed home three times. Junior Katie Coseglia got a single and then stole second base. The Prairie Fire added on four more runs in the bottom of the second to make the score 7-0.Â
MacMurray knocked in three runs in the third inning to cut the deficit to four. In the 4th inning the Prairie Fire erupted with six more runs to put the dagger in MacMurray.
Gabbi Diaz was rock solid in the circle throughout. The first-year had three strikeouts, two walks, and a complete game. The Prairie Fire's offense carried them to a win with a final score of 13-4. Casey Hipp led the team with five RBI in the game
In the second game of a doubleheader, the Highlanders knocked in two runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. The Prairie Fire responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half to take the lead.
MacMurray scored three runs during the top of the second inning, but Knox would see their run total and match it by scoring three runs of their own.
Facing a five run deficit at the top of the fifth inning, the Highlanders were able to rally back and take an 11-10 lead. After that, the bats just went cold for your Prairie Fire as they weren't able to squeak out another one. Kenzie Funk led the team with three hits and four RBI.
"We are progressing nicely as a team," said head coach Erin Rutledge. "The second game was a tough one, but we will learn from it."
The Prairie Fire split the Saturday afternoon affair against MacMurray College and now look forward to facing Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri on March 24.
