CHARLESTON, IL --- The Prairie Stars (19-13) had their five-game winning streak snapped in an 18-11 loss at Division I Eastern Illinois. Illinois Springfield took on the Ohio Valley Conference team in a non-conference affair after taking their last five games against Southern Indiana and Lewis University but fell in an offensive battle.

The Prairie Stars scored early, plating two in the top of the first, but on a windy day in Charleston, was just the beginning of an offensive day. Eastern scored one run in each of the first two innings to tie the game but a three spot from UIS in the third put the lead back in the Prairie Stars favor.

The Panthers crossed the plate in each of the first five innings, as UIS was unable to keep the home team off the board. Trey Hannam doubled in a run in the first inning and then Michael Rothmund hit his first of two home runs in the third to begin a three-run third for UIS.

UIS plated two more runs in the fourth on an EIU error with two-outs but Eastern came back and scored five runs in the fifth to take their first lead of the game 8-7.

Rothmund connected for his second home run of the day --- his 16^th of the season --- in the sixth to tie the game before UIS grabbed a 10-8 lead on a passed ball and RBI double from Drew Harper.

Eastern closed the game scoring 10 of the final 11 runs of the game, the lone UIS run coming on a solo home run off the bat of Ben Schanding in the eighth.

The game included 10 total home runs, seven from Eastern and three from UIS and 23 total hits. Rothmund collected two of the three home runs for UIS and led the way with three hits, driving in two and scoring four times. Harper went 2-for-3 on the day with two runs batted in. This was the third multi-homerun game for Rothmund this season, hitting two against both Oakland City and McKendree earlier in the year. His 16 home runs lead the GLVC by three.
Sam Geraci (1-4) took the loss on the mound while R.D. Lutze got the start for UIS, throwing three innings and giving up three runs.

UIS will return to conference play this weekend as they travel to Bellarmine University on Friday and Saturday for a 12:00 PM first-pitch both days.