Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 DIXON, IL – Prairie State softball showed its toughness today in the opening round of the Region IV Tournament.
 
The Pioneers have been battling injuries all year long and have still found a way to stay in games. Tuesday's three game set against Sauk Valley was much the same.

The Pioneers didn't get the result they wanted but they made it difficult on Sauk Valley. Prairie State fell 8-0 in 6 innings in the first game before bouncing back for a 7-6 victory in the second game. Sauk Valley took the rubber match 6-0 to end the Prairie State's season.
 
Sauk Valley 8, Prairie State 0 (6 inn.)

Prairie State managed only two hits in the opening game as it was stifled by the Sauk Valley pitcher.

Hannah Bilinski and Kristina Adney had the two hits for the Pioneers.

Prairie State 7, Sauk Valley 6

The Pioneers used a six-run fifth inning to stun Sauk Valley. Things were looking bleak for Prairie State before it went off.

Cameryn Standerfer doubled in a pair of runs to get Prairie State within one and then the hit parade started. Hannah Bilinski singled home Bethany Adney and Standerfer to give the Pioneers their first lead of the series. Brooke Dusseau singled home a run and Pam Muth did the same.

Sauk Valley scored three times in the bottom half of the inning but Bilinski got a huge two-out, game-winning hit driving in Standerfer.  

The run gave Prairie State the lead for good as freshman Shaelynn Svoboda retired the final six hitters to pick up the win in the circle.

Bethany Adney had two hits for the Pioneers.

Sauk Valley 6, Prairie State 0

Unfortunately, Prairie State was unable to solve the Sauk Valley pitcher from the first game as the Pioneers were shutout again.

Sauk Valley scored five times in the first two innings and the Pioneers couldn't dig out of the hole as they did in the second game.

Prairie State (7-18) managed six hits and were led by Adney who had two.