KENOSHA, WI --- The Prairie Stars (24-15, 13-5) increased their winning streak to three with a sweep of Wisconsin-Parkside to open up the four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series. Illinois Springfield won by scores of 7-2 and 8-1 and increase their hold on the second spot in the GLVC east standings. The Prairie Stars won the day on the mound, giving up just three runs in the double header, highlighted by a complete-game from Cameron Zunkel in game two, who took a no-hitter into the final inning. 

GAME ONE: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 7, WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE 2
Ethan Howard took the mound to begin the series for the Prairie Stars and surrendered runs in the first and third innings, but shut down the Rangers after that. The junior right hander threw six complete innings, giving up six hits and two runs while striking out four. Most notably, he shut the door after giving up two early runs to keep UIS in the game for the offense to pick him up later. 

In the nine inning game, UIS was held scoreless through six but broke through in the top of the seventh when Ben Schanding opened up the inning with a solo shot to right field. 

In the seventh, Parkside went to their bullpen and UIS quickly jumped on the opportunity as Michael Rothmund hit his 18th homerun of the season, a two-run shot giving the Prairie Stars a 3-2 lead. An error and two walks loaded the bases for UIS later in the inning, who scored two more on another throwing error on a fielders' choice from Kenny Hansen, pushing the lead to 5-2.

UIS pushed two more runs across in the final frame to make the score 7-2 where it became final. The pitching staff for the Prairie Stars shut down the Rangers, allowing just six hits and striking out six. Austin Kapusinski (1-0) picked up the win, throwing two innings of relief, not allowing a hit and walking just one. Trent Sidwell tossed a hitless final inning, striking out two to close out the game.

Along with his two-run home run, Rothmund added two more hits for a 3-for-5 game at the plate.

GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 8, WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE 1
As was the opposite in game one, the UIS bats got rolling early, giving Zunkel all the room to work with on the mound. UIS plated three runs in both the second and third innings to take a 6-0 lead after three and rolled from there. Austin Muench drilled a three-run home run in the second, scoring Troy Cantu and Chris Mathieu to begin the scoring. In the third, James Battley singled home Rothmund before John Sechen scored Mathieu on a fielders' choice with another run scoring on a Parkside error. 

Cole Taylor tripled in another run in the sixth before Rothmund closed out the scoring with an RBI groundout. 

The story of the game was Zunkel though, who recorded 20 outs before surrendering his first hit of the game. The freshman right hander began the game by retiring the first ten batters he faced before issuing his first walk in the bottom of the fourth. Another seven straight were retired before his second walk of the game in the sixth, but a fly out to right ended the inning with UIS up 8-0. Needing three outs for the no-hitter, Zunkel got a pop up and strike out before surrendering a single to left to break up history. Two more hits scored the Rangers lone run of the game before Zunkel wrapped up his gem with a final strikeout.

Zunkel finished the outing throwing a complete-game, giving one run on three hits and striking out a career high seven batters. 

Six different Prairie Stars recorded a hit in game two, led by Mathieu with a 3-for-4 effort. Rothmund added two more hits with a walk, run, and RBI while Muench drove in three, courtesy of the three-run home run.