The University of Illinois Springfield baseball team opened up its home series against William Jewell on Friday afternoon. The Prairie Stars took the opening game by an 8-6 score.
 
UIS trailed twice in the game at 2-0 in the second and 4-3 in the fifth. It fought back both times and took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, and then held off a late Cardinals charge.
 
Kal Youngquist saw his 36-game hitting streak end, but he still played a role in the win. He reached base in the fifth after being hit by a pitch, and helped UIS load the bases with a single and back-to-back hit-by-pitches. With two out, Chris Monroe then hit a grand slam over the left field wall to give the Prairie Stars a 7-4 lead.
 
Monroe had a big day at the plate with a double, homer and five RBI. Zion Pettigrew, Austin Alderman, and Bobby Barnard also had two hits apiece. Alderman scored three times in the game, and also had a double and triple.
 
Colton Hale improved to 8-0 after going five innings and allowing four runs and six hits. Mason Coon threw three innings and didn't allow a hit. He struck out six of the 10 batters he faced. Luke Fitton closed out the ninth. He allowed two unearned runs, but got a groundout to strand the tying run on second.
 
UIS improves to 29-4 on the year and 25-4 in GLVC play. The Prairie Stars and William Jewell will play a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at noon.