SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars blasted a season-high homeruns in a 21-9 rout of Lindenwood – St. Charles (13-17), improving to 13-12 on the season and picking up their fifth win in their last seven games. UIS rattled off 21 hits in the win, four more than their previous season high, accomplished against Kentucky State on March, 16^th. Of the 21 hits, eight went for extra bases, including that five that left the park, also a season-high.

With rain falling for most of the night and all morning, the game was moved to Jacksonville, Illinois to be played at Lenz Field, a place where UIS has already won this season, beating RMU-Springfield 12-0 in the season opener.

The offense struck early and often, as the Prairie Stars were shut out just twice in their eight at-bats. After a scoreless first, UIS crossed the plate seven times in the second inning, capped by a grand slam from Jason Galeano. The blast was the first grand slam by UIS this season.

Lindenwood responded with a three-run blast in the top half of the third, making the score 7-3 but the UIS offense couldn't be stopped. In the leadoff spot, Zach Patterson blasted a three-run homerun to right field with two strikes, pushing the UIS lead back to seven. Gabriel Acevedo added to the lead with the Prairie Stars' third homerun of the game, this one a solo shot, again to right field.

In the fourth, Galeano led off with his second homerun of the game, marking the second time this season a UIS player hit two homeruns in a game. Troy Cantu was the first player to do so, hitting two against Kentucky State. This was Galeano's fourth homerun of the season.

Trey Hannam left the yard in the fifth, giving him four on the season, tying him with Galeano and Acevedo.
UIS surrendered five runs in the top of the fifth but kept a five-run lead the whole way and then scored four more runs the next half inning.

Adam Gregory picked up the win for UIS, throwing the first three innings, allowing three runs on two hits. The GLVC ERA leader, Chance Simpson, threw one inning of perfect work, striking out one in the process. Gavin Collins and Jon Laird threw 3 2/3 innings, giving up two hits each but surrendering no runs. Austin Lukaschewski closed out the game, giving up a hit and a run.

UIS set season-highs for at-bats (43), runs (21), hits (21), RBI (21), homeruns (5), and hit by pitches (4). Acevedo and Ryan Walling each set a high mark for runs scored with four while John Sechen was the first player with a four-hit game this season. Patterson tallied the third 5-RBI game of the season for UIS, joining Galeano as one of two players to accomplish the feat --- something Galeano has done twice. Walling reached base in five of this six at-bats, recording two hits and drawing three walks. In his five times on the bases, Walling scored four times.

NOTES: The four-game series with Lewis this weekend has been moved to Springfield. The GLVC games will be played on Friday and Saturday with the first pitch for both days scheduled for 12:00 pm. Although the games will be played in Springfield, Lewis will still serve as the home team due to the conference scheduling.