SPRINGFIELD, IL --- Playing as the away team on their home field, Illinois Springfield (14-13, 5-5) fell in the series opener 9-7 before coming back and winning an offensive battle 15-12 in game two. UIS fell behind early in game one and couldn't fight all the way back despite scoring seven runs in the final three innings. In game two, the two teams traded blows as the Prairie Stars ultimately came out victorious on another brutally windy day.

GAME ONE: LEWIS 9, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 7
Starting pitcher, Jose Marin (1-3) surrendered a five run second inning and gave up another run in the third, but settled down and ultimately gave UIS a chance to win. The lefty went six innings, giving up the seven runs, but didn't walk anybody and struck out nine. Dan Pacha and Gavin Collins finished out the final two innings of relief, with Collins working a perfect final inning.

Down 6-0, UIS didn't score until the seventh when Zach Patterson finally broke through for UIS with a single to left center, scoring Jake Redlinger. A wild pitch scored another for UIS before an RBI single from Kenny Hansen and a single from Trey Hannam closed out the rally.

Lewis responded with two in the bottom half of the seventh to push their lead to 9-4.

Ryan Walling came back with a two-run blast to right field, putting UIS within three. Walling took the pitch to right and snuck it just inside the foul pole for a two-run homerun. Hannam connected for a solo shot in the ninth but the rally fell short, as UIS fell 9-7.

Hannam had two hits, a run, and two RBI and Walling drove in two as well.

GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 15, LEWIS 12
In what turned out to be the definition of a slugfest, UIS prevailed 15-12 in a game where there were 30 combined hits. On a night where ace, Chance Simpson, didn't have his best stuff, the Prairie Stars responded and picked up the senior righty and hit their way back above .500 on the season.

Gabriel Acevedo began the game with a two-run double to center, giving UIS the early lead. After four straight runs from Lewis, Galeano, Sechen, and Hunsinger each tallied an RBI in a four-run third inning for UIS.

Lewis responded with four runs of their own, taking a 7-6 lead. It didn't last long though, as Acevedo grabbed his second double of the game and drove in another, tying the game at seven before Walling continued his hot day, driving in Galeano, giving UIS an 8-7 advantage.

Lewis tied the game at eight but the UIS bats were too much, as they nearly hit for the cycle in the sixth inning, which began with a homerun from Acevedo. Galeano doubled in Hannam and Hunsinger and Reglinger each had RBI singles in the inning.

Lewis made it close in the sixth, scoring three times to close the gap to just one, but three more runs for UIS in the top of the seventh closed the deal.

Kyle Strepek picked up the win in relief for UIS, throwing 2.1 innings, giving up just one earned run on two hits, striking out three. Richard England threw the final two innings for UIS, giving up four runs but closing out the game.

Acevedo and Hunsinger each collected four hits in the winning effort. Acevedo had two doubles and a homerun, scoring three times and driving in four runs. Hunsinger went 4-for-5 on the game with five RBI's. Hannam reached base three times via the walk and scored each time he was on base.

The two teams will close out the four-game series tomorrow at 12 and 3 pm.