RENSSELAER, IN --- The Prairie Stars (28-19, 15-11) swept the Saint Joseph Puma's in the opening double header by a pair of one-run scores, 7-6 and 3-2. Trey Hannam hit a go-ahead two-run homerun in the top of the ninth in game one, completing the comeback for UIS. In the second game, UIS took a 3-0 lead and held on as Richard England shut it down in the seventh inning.

GAME ONE: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 7, SAINT JOSEPH'S 6
UIS took their first lead of the day in the top of the first inning as Hannam drove in his first run of the day on a fielders' choice. After the Puma's tied it in the bottom half on a solo homerun, UIS scored in the second and third innings to take a 3-1 lead. Jake Redlinger hit an RBI double in the second before Hannam picked up his second RBI of the day on a solo homerun to right center.

The Puma's came back to take a 4-3 lead in the third inning but UIS came right back with two in the fourth inning. Austin Muench tallied an RBI on a fielders' choice before Gabriel Acevedo singled in Adam Warda to give UIS a 5-4 lead.

A two-run blast for Saint Joseph's gave them a 6-5 lead after seven, where it stayed until the ninth inning.

After the Puma's starter was knocked out of the game, giving up 12 hits and five runs in just 3.2 innings, their first call to the bullpen was effective, as UIS went scoreless for four innings, tallying just two hits.

In the ninth, the Puma's went to the bullpen again and Hannam made them pay, blasting his second homerun of the day, a two-run shot to give UIS a one-run lead. From there, England threw a perfect final frame, striking out two to get the save.

Jose Marin started for on the mound for UIS, going 6.2 innings and striking out 11 while surrendering 10 hits and six earned runs. Gavin Collins got the win for the Prairie Stars, throwing 1.1 innings and allowing no hits and striking out two.

GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3, SAINT JOSEPH'S 2
Coming off the emotional win, UIS turned to Chance Simpson on the mound, who has been their ace all season. Simpson responded to the pressure, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just two runs on three hits. He picked up his fifth win of the season, as he passed the ball to Matt Farrington who struck out two of the four batters he faced. Once again, England came in for the save, and once again was lights out. England struck out two more batters in another 1-2-3 inning, locking up his 11^th save of the season.

UIS took the lead in the third inning when Acevedo hit his seventh homerun of the season, a two-run shot, giving UIS a 2-0 lead. The lead was extended to three in the fifth inning when Kenny Hansen drove in his 21^st run of the season with an RBI single.

A QUICK RECAP: The Prairie Stars recorded 17 hits in game one, tied for the second most all season … Six different players recorded multiple hits … Jose Marin has now struck out 21 batters in his last two outings, against just two walks … Richard England now has 11 saves, 2^nd most in the GLVC.

THINGS TO NOTE: If UIS wins one more game, they advance to the GLVC tournament … If Bellarmine beats Lewis one more time, UIS will advance to the GLVC tournament … UIS can move up to as high as the 2^nd seed if they sweep and UIndy loses to Southern Indiana