SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (7-9, 1-1) opened up conference play with a doubleheader against McKendree (9-12, 1-1) and split the opener falling 8-0 before taking game two 7-0. Senior, Chance Simpson, led the way for UIS in the second game, throwing a complete game shutout, striking out nine and walking none in the three-hit performance.

GAME ONE: MCKENDREE 8, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 0
The Prairie Stars struggled to find their way offensively in the first game, picking up six hits in the nine inning affair. McKendree jumped out to an early lead, scoring three in the top of the first, courtesy of a two-run homerun and a two-out RBI single.

After the first, Matt Farrington (1-4) settled into the flow of the game and retired the side in order in three of the next four innings. However, the Bearcats utilized a leadoff walk in the sixth, and scored three more runs in the inning, again with a homerun and two-out RBI single.

The Prairie Stars threatened in the fourth and sixth innings but were unable to come up with a two-out hit as they stranded seven baserunners on the game.

Trey Hannam collected a double in the defeat while Kenny Hansen picked up two hits. Farrington surrendered six earned in seven innings, giving up ten hits and striking out seven. Dan Pacha, Gavin Collins, and Kyle Strepek finished the final two innings. Strepek threw 1.2 innings, allowing no baserunners and striking out two.

GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 7, MCKENDREE 0
In the second game, Simpson began the game by retiring the first 11 Bearcats that stepped to the plate, not allowing a baserunner until the fourth inning after he retired the first two. By this time, UIS had already plated four runners. In the second, Gabriel Acevedo began the inning with a bunt for a hit and moved to third on a single from Jason Galeano. Acevedo scored the first run of the game, scoring on wild pitch.

In the third, with two-outs and nobody on, Hannam singled to left and moved to third on a single from Acevedo, who took second on the throw in from the outfield. Hansen continued the rally with a two-RBI double and then came in to score on a single from Galeano. UIS took a 4-0 lead, which was plenty for Simpson to work with.

UIS plated two more in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Adam Warda and an RBI-single from Hannam. The final run came in the sixth when Austin Muench blasted his first homerun of the season out to left field to lead off the inning.

Simpson stayed perfect on the season, improving to 3-0, throwing first complete game, striking out a season-high nine batters and allowing just four baserunners all game. Simpson has now thrown 27.2 innings on the season, surrendering just three earned runs, lowering his ERA to 0.98.

Muench collected two hits and an RBI while scoring twice in the leadoff spot. Hannam and Acevedo each tallied two hits while Galeano went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI.

These two teams will face off on Saturday at 12 and 3 pm to finish out the series as GLVC play gets underway.