CARTERSVILLE, GA --- Both games were close late, but it was the Tritons of Missouri – St. Louis that came out on top 3-2 and 5-3 over the Prairie Stars. UIS (2-3) tied the first game in the sixth but surrendered a lead in game two to drop 3-of-4 to the Tritons (5-1).

GAME 1: UMSL 3, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 2
After working around an error in the first inning, Richard England gave up a leadoff double in the top of the second. The next batter reached on a drop third strike and UMSL then scored on the next play with an RBI single. A sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out. A fly ball to right field put the runner in motion, but Kenny Hansen gunned down the runner, limiting the damage to just one run.

A passed ball gave the Tritons another run in the second, pushing their lead to 2-0.

UIS had just two baserunners up to the sixth inning but John Sechen began the inning by reaching on an error and then advancing to second on a single from Zach Patterson. Gabriel Acevedo continued his big weekend with the Prairie Stars' first RBI, scoring Patterson on a single. After a walk to Austin Peterson, Hansen reached on a fielders' choice and scored Patterson, tying the game at two.

The Tritons took the lead in the eighth when a leadoff hit by pitch began the rally. After a groundout moved the runner over, a passed ball moved the runner to third, allowing him to score on sacrifice fly.

Down 3-2 heading into the ninth inning, Hansen began the inning with a single and was replaced on the bases by Jake Redlinger who then advanced to second on a single from Michael Rothmund. With the tying run at second and winning run on first, Jason Galeano struck out for the first out before Brody McGrath reached on a fielders' choice, putting runners on the corners. Will Stanka was unable to come up with the tying hit and UIS fell 3-2.

Patterson and Acevedo had two hits apiece on offense while England threw five innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits, while striking out five. Adam Gregory took the loss, throwing three innings and giving up one run --- although it wasn't earned. Aaron Kuper closed on the game by throwing the ninth, walking one and striking out one.

GAME 2: UMSL 5, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3
Patterson led off the game by reaching on an error and then stole second with one out. After advancing to third on a groundball from Acevedo, Patterson came in to score on a passed ball, giving UIS an early 1-0 lead.

After starting pitcher, Jose Marin shut down the Tritons in the first three innings, UIS built on their lead in the fourth on a one-out homerun by Adam Warda. It's Warda's second homerun in the early season and gave UIS a 2-0 lead after three.

Marin gave up back-to-back hits in the fourth --- one of which was a double --- and the Tritons cut into the lead. Marin retired three straight though, stranding the runner at second to keep the 2-1 lead.

UIS surrendered the lead in the fifth as the first batter reached via hit-by-pitch and the next reached on an error. After another walk, Marin was pulled for Jon Laird who gave up a single to his first batter, scoring one and tying the game at two. The next batter walked, scoring another and giving UMSL their first lead of the game at 3-2. A fielders' choice, pitcher to home, gave UIS their first out of the inning and after that, Laird was replaced by Kyle Strepek. UMSL extended on their lead with a two-RBI fielders' choice as one runner was out at second. The inning ended with a fly ball to center, but not before four runs crossed the plate at gave UMSL a 5-2 lead.

UIS responded in the sixth when Jason Galeano was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hansen singled and scored Galeano making the score 5-3.

In the final frame, Patterson leadoff the inning by being hit, but was unable to move as the next three batters went down in order.

Warda and Hansen each had two hits in the second game and both recorded an RBI as well. Marin took the loss on the mound, throwing 4+ innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits. Marin struck out four on the day. Laird threw 1/3 of an inning, giving up a hit and a run before Strepek closed out the inning. Max Biedrzycki threw the final two frames, giving up no hits, striking out three and walking two.

UIS will look to rebound from these losses next Saturday and Sunday as they open up the home portion of their schedule with a four-game set against Missouri S&T. First pitch is slated for noon on both days.