JACKSONVILLE, IL --- The Prairie Stars (28-16, 16-6) tied the program record for wins in a season with an improbable comeback win against Saint Joseph's (30-14, 12-10). Illinois Springfield dropped game one by a score of 5-4 before scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two to earn a split with the Puma's.
GAME ONE: SAINT JOSEPH'S 5, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 4
The Puma's jumped out early in the first inning on a two-run home run off
Ethan Howard to take an early lead. Much like UIS has done all season, the offense answered right back with a run of their own as
Michael Rothmund drove in his first run of the day on an RBI groundout to third, scoring
Austin Muench.
Down 2-1, UIS surrendered another run in the third but once again scored in the bottom half. This time,
Drew Harper scored on an RBI single from
Trey Hannam, putting UIS within one again.
Two bases loaded walks in the fourth scored a pair of runs for the Puma's and gave the road team a 5-2 lead after four. The Prairie Stars couldn't get any offense going against the Puma's lefty after the third, stranding a runner in three of the next four innings.
That all changed in the eighth when Rothmund doubled to left to begin the inning and came into score on a two-run home run from
Myles Hann, cutting the deficit to 5-4.
Down just a run in their last at-bat, UIS couldn't string together any more magic, going down in order and falling for the first time in six games.
Taylor and
Drew Harper had two hits each in the first game while Hann drove in a pair. Howard 5-4) took the loss on the mound, throwing 4.2 innings and giving up five runs (four earned). Austin Kapusinksi and
Chase Lowman combined to throw 4.1 scoreless innings in relief, striking out four.
GAME TWO: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 5, SAINT JOSEPH'S 4
Under the dark skies of Jacksonville, with rain continuing to fall, the UIS offense had no answer for Saint Joseph's in game two. Another first inning home run put the Puma's up 2-0 after one and that lead grew to 4-0 after the fifth on another home run.
UIS was held without a baserunner through the first five innings, as the first 15 batters were retired. That changed with one swing of the bat, as the perfect-game, no-hitter, and shutout were tossed out the window when
Zach Patterson connected for a solo shot to open the bottom of the sixth, making the score 4-1.
John Sechen followed with an infield single and scored on a pinch hit RBI triple from
Will Stanka. After a walk to Taylor, Rothmund --- who was named the UIS Male Athlete of the Year --- did what he does best, hitting a three-run home run to dead center field, giving UIS a 5-4 lead. The blast was his 21
st of the season and ended one of the most important innings of the season.
R.D. Lutze came in to close out the game, retiring each of the three batters he faced, striking out the final two for his fourth save of the season.
Colby Carmichael (1-0) picked up the win, throwing an inning of scoreless relief.
Adam Gregory took the no-decision, throwing four innings and giving up three runs on four hits.
UIS had just four hits, one off their season low, but made them count as three went for extra bases, including a triple and two home runs.
The two teams will conclude their series on Monday with a 10:00 AM first-pitch and will follow that with the series finale. Games will be played at Lenz Field in Jacksonville due to unplayable field conditions due to the rain.
