Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PEORIA, Illinois - The Prairie Fire softball team opened their season on Thursday night, playing a pair of games at the Louisville Slugger Dome in Peoria. Knox defeated Northland 3-2 and falling to Mount Mary 7-5.

Knox scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning in the first game against Northland. The Prairie Fire added another run in the third when Taylynn Kizer doubled home Maddie Poetzinger. The Lumberjills pushed across single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but Knox held on for the one run victory.

Poetzinger finished 3-for-4 at the plate and Maddie Hicks added a pair of hits in three at bats. Kizer and Maya McEwen each drove in a run.

First-year Claire Davison pitched a gem in her collegiate debut, allowing no earned runs and striking out six.

In game two, the Prairie Fire again struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kizer and McEwen each drove in a run with singles. Mount Mary scored five runs in the third inning to take a 5-2 lead, but Knox answered with three runs to tie it up 5-5 in the bottom half of the inning. Kizer, Hicks, and Janet Lentini each singled in runs.

The Blue Angels pushed two runs across in the top of the seventh to take the lead. They held on for the win.

McEwen, Kizer, and Hicks each tallied two hits for the Prairie Fire.

Lentini pitched in relief, giving up two runs in 4.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts.

"I am so proud of Claire and Janet, both pitching well in their collegiate debuts," said head coach Erin Clark. "We had a lot of great at bats as well and we will continue to get better as the season progresses."

Knox returns to action as they return to the Louisville Slugger Dome on February 23 to battle University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.