SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars took three of four from the Wisconsin – Parkside Rangers and won their first GLVC series of the season, improving to 23-17, 11-9 on the season. UIS fell victim to a great pitching performance in the first game, suffering a 7-0 loss while breaking up a no-hitter in the final inning before the bats came alive for a 7-3 victory in the series finale.
GAME ONE: WISCONSIN – PARKSIDE 7, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 0
A first inning homerun gave the Rangers an early 1-0 lead, but
Matt Farrington settled in after that, throwing up a zero in the next three innings. UIS put their first baserunner on in the fourth when
Jake Redlinger was hit by a pitch but couldn't do anything with it.
The big inning for the Rangers came in the fifth when Parkside put up six runs on six hits, utilizing one Prairie Stars error in the inning. The Rangers pieced together a rally to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
UIS put together a small rally in the fifth as
Austin Muench began the inning with a hit by pitch as well and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a walk to
Ryan Walling put runners on first and second, a strikeout and 4-6-3 double play ended the threat.
The Prairie Stars broke up the no-hit bid in the final inning as Muench punched a single through the left side with one out. Tyler Jandron struck out nine and walked five in his second consecutive shutout, after he blanked #19 UIndy last week en route to Player of the Week honors.
Jon Laird threw two perfect innings in relief, striking out two batters while facing the minimum to close out the game.
GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 7, WISCONSIN – PARKSIDE 3
In the series finale, UIS turned to freshman pitcher
Adam Gregory to pick up the series win. Gregory did not disappoint, throwing 5.1 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits and striking out four. Gregory now owns a 6-2 record on the season and the most wins on the UIS pitching staff.
Dan Pacha finished the sixth inning, allowing just one hit and striking out one before turning it over to
Richard England for the final three innings. England shut the door, striking out five Rangers over the final three innings, allowing just one baserunner. By throwing three innings to close out the game, England picked up his eighth save of the season, securing the 7-3 win.
After Parkside scored an unearned run in the second, UIS responded by tying the game on a sacrifice fly from
John Sechen. In the third,
Adam Warda doubled down the right field line, scoring
Kyle Hunsinger and giving UIS the 201 lead.
Michael Rothmund notched the final RBI of the inning with a single through the left side, scoring
Gabriel Acevedo.
UIS put three more runs on the board in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead before the Rangers pushed one run across in the fifth and sixth innings.
Hunsinger led the way offensively for UIS, going a perfect 3-for-3 in the second game with a walk and two runs. Warda reached base three times, recording a double and two walks while the two through seven hitters for UIS each recorded one RBI.
After taking 3-of-4, UIS moves into a tie for fourth with Bellarmine, overtaking Lewis for possession of the final playoff spot. The Prairie Stars have eight conference games remaining, four with both UIndy and Saint Joseph's. Saint Joseph's currently has a one game lead on the Prairie Stars.
