Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PEORIA, Illinois - The Prairie Fire softball team opened up their season with a pair of losses on Thursday night at the Louisville Slugger Dome. Knox dropped game one 8-0 to Loras before falling to Dominican 10-0 in the nightcap.

The Duhawks scored three runs in each of the first two innings and a run apiece in the third and fourth to earn a five inning victory. 

The Stars also started with a pair of three run innings. The Prairie Fire held Dominican scoreless in the third, but the Stars scored two runs in each of the last two innings to earn a five inning win.

First-year Maddie Poetzinger broke up a no-hitter in the fifth inning against Loras. She also tallied a hit in game two against the Stars. Casey Hipp and Mimi Schweitzer each added a hit against Dominican as well. 

"This was our first action of the year," said head coach Erin Rutledge. "We got better as the day went on and I think we will be much better next week now that we have some games under our belt."

Knox returns to action as they return to the Louisville Slugger Dome on March 4 as they take on Alverno and Wisconsin-Stevens Point.