WESTFIELD, IND. --- The Prairie Stars (28-23) advanced to the GLVC conference tournament for the second time in the last three seasons but fell short on the second day, falling to the University of Indianapolis 7-1 in the first elimination game of the weekend. The Prairie Stars end the season with a record of 28-23, tying the season-high mark in wins in a season.

With a 9:05 first pitch, UIS senior right-hander Chance Simpson came out firing on the mound, making quick work of the Greyhounds in the top of the first. The offense came ready to go in the bottom half as Austin Muench and Trey Hannam collected back-to-back doubles in the first two at-bats to take a 1-0 lead.

UIS was working against Matt Kaplanis (9-1), who they roughed up in his last outing, tagging him for five runs and 12 hits over seven innings. This time around though, Kaplanis went the distance after a rough start, striking out a career high 11 batters.

The Prairie Stars had five hits through the first three innings but lined into two separate double plays, negating two rallies early in the game.

The turning point seemed to come in the top of the fourth after UIS lined into a double play to end the inning in the third. With one-out, UIndy hit what seemed to be a ground rule double to left field, but was ruled a two-run homerun, giving the Greyhounds a 3-1 lead. UIS could never recover after the unfortunate play, and surrendered seven unanswered runs to the two seed out of the eastern division.

After putting eight runners on in the first four innings, Kaplanis then retired 17-of-19 batters to end the game, surrendering just one hit and one walk through the final 5.1 innings.

Muench went 3-for-4 with a double and a run in the game, collecting five hits in the two-game tournament. Hannam, hitting in the two-hole today, went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Michael Rothmund, Ryan Walling, and John Sechen each had a hit apiece.

On the mound, the Prairie Stars went with a trio of seniors, as Simpson (5-2) took the loss after throwing 3.2 innings and surrendering three earned runs and six hits. Richard England relieved Simpson and threw a season-high five innings, striking out six. Gavin Collins relieved England and recorded the final out of the game.

Again, the 28-wins ties a program record, which they previously accomplished in 2014, their first season advancing to the GLVC tournament.