SPRINGFIELD, IL --- After playing their first five games at neutral sites, the Prairie Stars (2-4) opened up their 2016 season at home but fell to the Missouri S& T Miners (9-4) by a score of 4-1.
Adam Warda hit his third homerun of the season in the bottom of the first, but the Miners plated three runs in the first two innings to take control.
In the top of the first, Missouri S&T had back-to-back two strike hits to lead off the game and after a sacrifice bunt, the cleanup hitter drove in the first run of the game on an RBI groundout to
Kyle Hunsinger at shortstop.
In the bottom half of the first, Warda tied the game at one with a homerun to left field, his third of the season in just six games. After the homerun,
Gabriel Acevedo and
Trey Hannam both singed and then advanced on a balk, giving UIS second and third with one out, but they were unable to take the lead.
A single and two walks loaded the bases for the Miners in the top of the second with nobody out. A groundball to Warda at second resulted in one run, and then a second run scored on the ensuing rundown with the runner between first and second, giving Missouri S&T a 3-1 lead.
UIS threatened in the fourth after Hannam reached on an error and stole second, but a 4-3 double play off an
Austin Muench line drive stopped the rally.
The Miners tagged on another run in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead off
Matt Farrington.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Prairie Stars tagged three balls, but each were tracked down by the center fielder. The wind was blowing straight in, making it difficult for any ball to get out.
Farrington (1-2) took the loss for the Prairie Stars throwing seven innings, giving up four runs on five hits and walking four as well.
Jon Laird threw 1.1 innings in relief, giving up no runs on one hit and walking two.
Kyle Strepek finished the final two-thirds of an inning, retiring both batters he faced.
Warda ended the day going 3-for-4 with the lone run and RBI. Hannam recorded two hits as the Prairie Stars scattered eight hits on the day.
The series will continue on Saturday with a double header beginning at 12:00 pm.
