LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior Max Biedrzycki (Bolingbrook, Ill.) tossed seven innings of one-run ball to lead the University of Illinois Springfield baseball team to a split with the Bellarmine Knights, 7-1 and 0-4, Friday afternoon at Knights Field.

Biedrzycki got the start in the first game of the series and continued his dominant form, allowing just one earned run over seven innings to go with five strikeouts. In his last four outings, the junior has allowed just two earned runs over 25.2 innings while striking out 29.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth. Junior Kyle Hunsinger (Joliet, Ill.) led off the frame with a single through the left side and later came around to score on a wild pitch to give UIS a 1-0 lead. With a runner on third and two outs, sophomore John Schram (Bloomingdale, Ill.) laced a double down the left field line to make the score 2-0. The very next batter, junior Aaron Kuper (Highland, Ill.) increased the UIS advantage with a RBI-single through the right side.

Two more singles in the inning helped the Prairie Stars put up five runs in the inning, which was more than enough for Biedrzycki. The Knights got a run back in the bottom half of the sixth but that was all they could muster in game one. Senior Kyle Schildroth (Aviston, Ill.) pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game. The Prairie Stars tacked on runs in the eighth and the ninth to take game one of the series, 7-1.

In the second game of the day, the Knights opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first. Junior Christopher Irwin (Hiram, Ga.) got the start for the Prairie Stars and allowed three runs over 5.1 innings. The Prairie Stars mustered just four hits in the game but had opportunities to score.

In the top of the first, designated hitter John Schram singled down the left field line to put runners on the corners with two outs but that was as far as they got. In the top of the third, the Prairie Stars threatened again when freshman Michael Rothmund (Lombard, Ill.) tripled to right center field with just one out. The next two batters in the inning struck out, stranding Rothmund at third.

Bellarmine starter Austin Warner pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking out eight.

With the split, UIS remains tied with Bellarmine for second place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The two remaining games in the series are scheduled for tomorrow at 12 p.m. EDT, weather permitting.