ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Prairie Stars held the Tritons to just two hits, but two runs in the sixth inning proved to be enough for the hosts as UMSL defeated the University of Illinois Springfield baseball team, 2-1, Thursday afternoon at the UMSL Baseball Field.

Junior Gavin Collins (Camp Verde, Ariz.) made his third start of the season for UIS and pitched six solid innings. He allowed just one hit and two runs while striking out four. Senior Robert Spath (Petersburg, Ill.) pitched the final two innings and was nearly perfect, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out three.

The Prairie Stars outhit the Tritons 6-2 in what turned out to be a pitcher's duel. Both team's struggled to get anything going offensively until the third inning. Junior Jake Redlinger (Washington, Iowa) drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to second on a sacrifice groundout. After a passed ball and another walk, UIS had runners on the corners with two outs. The Prairie Stars executed a double steal as Redlinger reached home safely to give UIS a 1-0 lead.

Collins did not allow a hit until the sixth inning but that was when UMSL did its damage. After a leadoff walk, UMSL's JJ Kinnevan tripled to left field to tie the game at one. The next batter drove him home with a sacrifice fly to give the hosts the lead.

The Prairie Stars were unable to tie the game in the final innings as the Tritons won 2-1.

UIS is back in action tomorrow when it begins a four-game series with Maryville at 6 p.m.