SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (3-5) took game one of their double header with the Missouri S&T Miners  (10-5) behind a great pitching performance from Chance Simpson. Illinois Springfield fell in the second game 5-2, where one bad inning proved to be the difference in the game.

GAME ONE: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3, MISSOURI S&T 2
Simpson worked around two hits in the top of the first and then didn't allow another hit until the sixth inning, working swiftly and efficiently through the Miners lineup. Meanwhile, the Prairie Stars threatened in the second and then took the lead in the third, taking advantage of a Miner error with two outs. Walks to John Sechen and Trey Hannam set up the inning and Sechen eventually scored on an error on the third baseman, giving UIS a 1-0 lead.  

Sechen then led off the fifth with a single to left center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kyle Hunsinger. He then tagged on a fly ball to right off the bat of Hannam and scored on an RBI bunt from Adam Warda with two outs. After a walk to Gabriel Acevedo, Jason Galeano picked up a two-out RBI single to left field, driving in Warda and giving Simpson and UIS a 3-0 lead.

In the ensuing half inning, back-to-back doubles gave Missouri S&T runners at second and third, both of which came into score on a single to left center. However, Simpson induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and keep a 3-2 lead.

In the seventh, head coach Chris Ramirez called on Richard England to come in for the save. After a leadoff single, the Miners tried to sacrifice but England forced the lead runner out at second. In the next at-bat, Missouri S&T put on a hit-and-run, and the batter lined one right to first, ending the game on an unassisted double play.

Galeano tallied two hits and an RBI in the game while Warda picked up an RBI as well. Simpson (2-0) threw six strong innings, giving up two earned on five hits, striking out three.

GAME TWO: MISSOURI S&T 5, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 2
In the second game, UIS fell victim to one bad inning, giving up a five-run seventh which proved to be the difference. UIS took the first lead of the game in the fourth hen Aaron Kuper reached on an error by the third baseman with two out. He then advanced to second on an error on the first baseman on an attempted pick-off. Austin Peterson then came up with a clutch, two-out RBI single to center, scoring Kuper and giving UIS a 1-0 lead.

Starting pitcher, Jose Marin, held the lead until the seventh when aa leadoff error from UIS started a five-run rally. Back-to-back singles gave Missouri S&T a 2-1 lead and forced Marin out of the game. Gavin Collins came in for relief and after getting two quick outs, gave up back-to-back singles which scored two more runs. The final run crossed on an error from Hannam in left field, but then threw out the final runner at the plate to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, the first two batters reached base for the Prairie Stars, and then moved to second and third on a ground ball from Brody McGrath. Ryan Walling, who pinch ran for Peterson, scored on a sacrifice fly from Hannam but the game ended 5-2.

Both teams made three errors in the game and UIS actually out hits the Miners 7-to-5. Acevedo and Zach Patterson each had two hits in the second game while Hannam and Peterson each drove in a run. Marin threw six+ innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits, striking out four. In relief, Collins threw one inning and gave up two runs (one earned) and struck out one. Dan Pacha finished the game, throwing the final two innings, not allowing a hit. The two batters that reached base, via walk and hit by pitch, were both picked off first.

UIS will look to even the series on Sunday as the four-game set comes to a close. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00.