SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars swept the Rangers in the first two games of the four game series, winning a slug fest 14-11 in the opener and then tossing a combined one-hitter en route to a 6-2 victory in the second game. Trey Hannam had a monster day, going 4-for 7 with two homeruns, seven RBI, and six runs scored. Max Biedrzycki and Dan Pacha combined to throw a one-hitter in the second game as Biedrzycki picked up the win throwing six innings.

GAME ONE: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 14, WISCONSIN – PARKSIDE 11
UIS jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first two innings to take a commanding lead. However, the Rangers came back with eight unanswered runs to take an 8-4 lead after their at-bat in the top of the fourth. UIS came back with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, to take back the lead 9-8. The biggest hit of the inning came from Hannam, who blasted a grand slam to left center, giving UIS the lead.

After Parkside tied the game in the following half inning, UIS scored five straight runs, taking the game 14-11. Jason Galeano hit a two-run blast to left center in the sixth and then scored Hannam once more in the seventh on an RBI-double.

Austin Muench tallied four hits in the opener while the top five batters in the UIS order combined to reach base 16 times and score 12 runs.

Jose Marin started the game and threw four innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on ten hits. He was relieved for Gavin Collins, who picked up his first win of the season, throwing two innings, giving up just one run and one hit while striking out four. Kyle Strepek and Aaron Kuper closed out the final three innings to secure the victory. Strepek threw two scoreless innings, striking out two.

GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 6, WISCONSIN – PARKSIDE 2
Continuing where he left off in the first game, Hannam drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single to center, scoring Jake Redlinger, who led off the game with a single. Galeano then blasted his second homerun of the day, with a three-run homerun, giving UIS a 4-0 lead in the first.

Biedrzycki struggled with control on the day, walking eight, but surrendered only one hit on the game, giving up two earned runs. Dan Pacha closed out the final innings, retiring each of the three batters he faced, striking out one.

Hannam connected again in the fifth for his second homerun of the day, this time a two-run homerun to put UIS up 6-1. It was Hannam's team leading 10^th homerun of the season and gives him 32 RBI on the season, also best on the team. Galeano's two homeruns give him six on the year and bring his RBI total to 31.

Lewis split with Southern Indiana so UIS is now tied with the Flyers for the fourth spot in the GLVC east division and one game back of Bellarmine for the third spot.