ROLLA, MO --- The Prairie Stars (8-7) traveled to Rolla, Missouri to take on the Miners of Missouri S&T in a four-game series, and came away victories in one of those games, winning 3-1 in the third game behind Adam Gregory. UIS fell 10-2 and 7-4 on Friday before falling 6-5 in 13 innings to close out the series. This concluded a five-game road swing.

GAME ONE: MISSOURI S&T 10, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 2
The Miners scored nine runs across the first two innings, taking control of the series opener. Seven hits and two errors aided the Miners in building their lead while UIS scored a run in the second on a home run from Myles Hann.

The Prairie Stars scored again in the final inning as John Sechen drove in Hann, who scored both runs for the Prairie Stars.  

Cole Taylor and Hann each collected two hits on the game and three of the five hits that UIS collected went for extra bases.

Gunnar Kay (1-3) took the loss, throwing two innings, giving up nine runs (seven earned) on six hits. Chase Lowman threw three innings in relief, giving up one unearned run before turning the ball over to Colby Carmichael who threw one scoreless inning.

GAME TWO: MISSOURI S&T 7, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 4
As in the first game, Missouri S&T took an early lead in the first inning but UIS rallied back in the second, tying the game at one on a single from Drew Harper. A run in the fourth for Missouri S&T gave the Miners the lead back but Michael Rothmund connected for a three-run homerun to give UIS a 4-2 lead in the fifth.

Going into the final inning, UIS led 4-2 but couldn't hang on as Missouri S&T scored five runs in the final frame, ending with a three-run walk-off homerun.

Ethan Howard (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season, throwing 6.1 innings and giving up five earned runs on seven hits. Cameron Zunkel relieved Howard in the final frame after one run had already come in before the Miners ended the game with the three run homerun.

GAME THREE: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3, MISSOURI S&T 1
The Prairie Stars dominated game three from start to finish behind a stellar performance from starting pitcher, Adam Gregory. UIS scored once in the third inning on a single from Chris Mathieu and scored again in the fourth and sixth inning on a homerun and subsequent sacrifice fly from Hann.

That was plenty of offense for Gregory, who surrendered just two hits on the game and walked just once. Gregory struck out three and gave up just one unearned run en route to his third win of the season.

GAME FOUR: MISSOURI S&T 6, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 5
The final game of the series ended in heartbreak for the Prairie Stars, falling 6-5 in 13 innings to the Miners. UIS held a 5-4 lead going into the ninth inning but again, the Miners were able to rally to tie the game before winning in the 13^th.

UIS fell behind in the fourth before Rothmund tied the game in the sixth with an RBI single. Missouri S&T took a 3-1 lead but UIS came back in the seventh with three runs, with RBI's coming from Taylor, Rothmund, and Austin Muench.

In the final inning, a one out single led to the game-winning run, which scored on a throwing error from the left fielder after a double down the line.

Brayden Jensen got the start for UIS and threw 6.1 innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on eight hits, striking out three. R.D. Lutze threw 1.1 scoreless innings who then gave the ball to Cameron Zunkel, who gave up one run in the ninth. Sam Geraci took the tough loss, throwing 3.2 innings, giving up three hits and striking out four.

PRAIRIE STAR NOTES: Cole Taylor led UIS with eight hits, three runs, and two doubles … Myles Hann had six hits, including two homeruns … UIS had six extra base hits on the weekend --- three doubles and three homeruns … UIS pitchers struck out 25 batters against just nine walks … Five of the nine pitchers who toed the rubber did not give up an earned run.

UIS will return home for four straight games, playing Lindenwood, UMSL, Robert Morris – Springfield, and Harris Stowe.