LEBANON, IL --- The Prairie Stars (12-9, 2-0) opened up conference play with a bang, sweeping McKendree (8-12, 0-2) by scores of 26-5 and 11-6. UIS scored in seven different innings in the first game, including a nine spot in the sixth and then backed that up with ten unanswered runs in the final three innings of game two to sweep the Bearcats.

GAME ONE: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 26, MCKENDREE 5
The Prairie Stars opened the weekend with a run in the first, as Michael Rothmund began the day with an RBI single to center field, scoring Cole Taylor. The Bearcats responded with two runs in the bottom of the second but from then on, it was all Prairie Stars.

UIS put a three spot in on McKendree in the third, scoring two runs on a triple from Taylor and another on a sacrifice fly from Trey Hannam. Kenny Hansen blasted his first homerun of the season in the fourth, a two-run shot to left field before UIS plated five runs in the fifth to put the lead at 11-2.

In the fifth, Myles Hann singled in two, Ben Schanding singled in another, before Hansen collected two more RBI's with a single to center.

Up 11-2, UIS plated nine runs in the sixth inning, which featured home runs from Taylor and Hannam. Two runs in the seventh preceded a home run from Hann in the eighth, which put UIS at 26 runs for the game.

Lost in the offense was the job the pitching staff did, with Ethan Howard picking up his fourth win of the season (4-1), throwing six innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five. Sam Geraci and Chase Lowman finished the final three innings and as a staff, combined for nine strikeouts.

As a team, UIS went 21-for-50 from the plate with six doubles, a triple, and four home runs.

Hann recorded the third five-hit game for a Prairie Star this season, tying a UIS record, but also added a record five runs and nine RBI on the day. The nine RBI's in a single-game, break the previous mark by three.

Taylor recorded three hits, scored three times, and drove in three as well. Hannam drove in four runs and scored three times, while Hansen scored twice and drove in four.

GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 11, MCKENDREE 6
Just as the first game started, UIS jumped out early with a run in the first, again off a single from Rothmund, scoring Taylor. However, McKendree responded with three runs in the first two innings, taking a 6-1 lead.

The UIS offense was held at bay until the fifth when Rothmund blasted his 11^th home run of the season, a solo shot, making the score 6-2.

In the sixth, the Prairie Stars took over, capitalizing on three McKendree errors, scoring five runs to take a 7-6 lead. Not comfortable sitting on a one-run lead, UIS added four more in the seventh, with the big blow coming again from Rothmund, a three-run home run to right center.

Gunnar Kay started on the hill for the Prairie Stars but lasted just 1.2 innings, giving up five runs and walking four. The bullpen picked up their teammate though, throwing 5.1 innings of four-hit ball, giving up just one run. R.D. Lutze (1-0) picked up the win while Brayden Jensen recorded the save.

Rothmund drove in five runs in the game on a perfect 3-for-3 day with two walks. Hann added two more hits and another RBI to his total while Taylor scored three more runs, giving him six on the day.

On the day, Hann went 7-for-9 with five runs, two doubles, a homerun and 10 RBI. Rothmund went 5-for-7 with five runs, two homeruns and six RBI; while Taylor scored six runs and was a single short of the cycle in the first game, picking up the final hit in game two.

UIS and McKendree will face off again on Sunday to close out the series with the first pitch at 12:00 PM at McKendree.