CARTERSVILLE, GA --- The Prairie Stars suffered a tough 2-1 loss to Great Lakes Valley Conference opponent UMSL, but came back strong for a 5-0 win in the second game of the double-header. The Prairie Stars move to 2-1 on the season and will finish up the four-game series in Cartersville, Georgia tomorrow.

GAME 1: UMSL 2, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 1
In a pitchers dual, Matt Farrington (1-1) took the tough loss for the Prairie Stars, throwing six innings and giving up two runs but striking out seven. Farrington allowed five hits and no walks in his second start of the season but a two-run fourth inning was the difference maker.

After the Prairie Stars went down in order in the first, Gabriel Acevedo launched a solo homerun in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. UIS held the lead until the fourth when the Tritons rallied for two-runs with two outs. Back-to-back strike outs began the inning but consecutive singles preceded a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. A two-out single scored both runs to give UMSL the 2-1 lead.

UIS got runners on in both the fifth and sixth innings, but were unable to get the tying run across. Acevedo and Kenny Hansen had two hits apiece in the loss.

GAME 2: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 5, UMSL 0
In the back end of the double-header, UIS scratched three runs across in the top of the first and never looked back. Zach Patterson walked and Michael Rothmund singled with one out, setting up Acevedo for a one-out double, picking up another RBI. Austin Peterson followed with a double of his own to score Acevedo and Rothmund making the score 3-0.

The pitching staff shut down the Tritons for the entire game, surrendering just five hits in the nine-inning affair. UIS crossed the plate twice more in the ninth inning to complete the 5-0 win. With two outs and nobody on, Kyle Hunsinger reached on an error before Aaron Kuper was hit by a pitch. Peterson picked up an RBI with a single before Adam Warda finished the scoring with another two-out hit.

Chance Simpson picked up the win on the mound, working seven strong innings, giving up just four hits and striking out six. Simpson didn't walk anybody and retired 20 of the 24 batters he faced. Gavin Collins relieved Simpson in the eighth, working with a three run lead and finished the game off giving up just one hit, but worked around three walks.

The Prairie Stars will conclude their four-game set on Sunday with first pitch set for 11 am ET.