SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) baseball team rolled past Lindenwood University with a 14-2 victory on Tuesday.
 
Nick Stokowski blasted two two-run home runs for the Prairie Stars (8-3), going 2-for-5 at the plate. Myles Hann cranked a solo blast. Cole Taylor finished 2-for-4 with a two-run triple and a double. John Sechen turned in two doubles, going 3-for-5. Mason Coon provided a two-run single. The Prairie Stars also received hits from Jack Schaaf, Michael Rothmund, Chris Monroe, Tyler Hilton, Kenny Hansen and Troy Cantu to round out their 15 hits.
 
The Lions (10-7) tallied three hits as Kyle Teter, Rayce Singbush and Tyler Muehling each provided singles.
 
Ethan Howard was tabbed with the start for UIS. He struck out three batters, gave up three walks and allowed two runs on two hits in four and one-third innings. Cam Zunkel (1-1) picked up the win. He fanned two batters and gave up one hit in two and two-thirds scoreless innings. Sam Geraci punched out each of the three batters he faced. Colby Carmichael tallied a strikeout and walked a batter in one scoreless inning.
 
Justin Taylor (0-3) suffered the loss. He produced a strikeout, issued a walk and yielded four runs (three earned) on three hits in one inning. Austin Muich threw one scoreless inning and allowed zero hits and zero walks. Eric Hipp tossed two scoreless innings, fanned three batters and gave up a hit and a walk. Justin Baylard walked a batter and surrendered six runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning. Karson Aherin allowed a walk and three runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning. Nate Hiillerman pitched one and two-thirds inning, retiring each of the five batters he faced. He provided a strikeout. Austin Georgen recorded two strikeouts and issued one run on two hits in one inning.
 
Both teams fought the elements of mother nature as it sleeted during the bottom of the first inning and again in the bottom of the fifth. There was seven-minute delay during the bottom of the fifth due to poor weather conditions.
 
During the bottom of the first, Lindenwood attempted to pick off Schaaf at second while Taylor was on first. A bad throw from the pitcher resulted the ball into going into the outfield, allowing Schaaf and Taylor to advance a base. The centerfielder misplayed the ball allowing Taylor to reach third and for Schaaf to score. Hann delivered an RBI double to put UIS ahead 2-0. Stokowski smashed a two-run blast on the next at bat.
 
During the top of the fifth, Wes Degener drew an RBI walks and DJ Miller drove in another run off a groundout, cutting Lindenwood's deficit to 4-2.
 
The Prairie Stars poured in eight runs during the bottom of the fifth. Taylor scored on a wild pitch. Stokowski connected on his second two-run bomb of the day. Coon ripped a two-run single and Taylor belted a two-run triple. Rothmund singled in a run to put UIS ahead 12-2.
 
Nick Mayerhofer drove in a run off a fielder's choice in the sixth, giving the Prairie Stars an 11-run lead.
 
Sechen delivered a run-scoring double in the eighth.
 
The Prairie Stars are slated for four-game series with Hillsdale College (2-10). UIS and Hillsdale battle in 12 p.m. doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.