Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FOREST PARK, Ill. – With a sweep of the visiting Crusaders of Maranatha Baptist Bible College today, the Stars get back to .500 (14-14) on the season and improve to 7-5 in Northern Athletics Conference play.
 
The Stars found themselves down 2-0 to the Crusaders (6-18, 1-13 NAC) to begin their half of third inning, but rallied off five runs to take the lead and followed it up with four more runs in the fourth to extend their lead to 9-2.
 
Emily Mahoney (Crystal Lake, Ill./South) was responsible for three of the four fourth-inning runs, as she blasted her first long-ball of the season to score Melissa Summaria (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee Crown) and Sarah Budz (Orland Park, Ill./Providence Catholic), who reached base via an intentional walk.
 
But the Crusaders would tally a pair of two-out runs in the fifth to close the gap on the Stars, and followed it up with two more runs in the sixth, which brought the final score to 9-6.
 
Jori Cicale (Steger, Ill./Marian Catholic) would fan two batters in the Crusaders’ last at-bat, en route to nine strikeouts and her ninth win of the season.
 
In game two, the Stars jumped out ahead early with five runs in the first inning, followed it up with three runs in each of the next two innings, and gave the five-inning game its final score after scoring their 12^th and 13^th runs in the fourth inning.
 
Andrea Pinarski’s (Goshen, Ind./Concord) four RBI’s would lead the Stars offensively, while Nicole Foley (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection), Budz, Mahoney, and Amy Paolini (Lemont, Ill.) each brought two runners across the plate. Christina Lemon (Maywood, Ill./Timothy Christian) chipped in offensively with another RBI, going 2-2 at the plate to match Pinarski.
 
Foley, Mahoney, and Pinarski would each knock doubles in the contest, while Paolini would record her first triple of the season.
 
With the win, Sarah Slouber (Willow Springs, Ill./Argo) tallied her first career victory, striking out three Crusaders in four innings pitched.
 
The Stars will travel to Lakeland College tomorrow to take on the Muskies (13-9, 8-2 NAC) in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.