The University of Illinois Springfield baseball team opened up its series with Rockhurst by splitting a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at the UIS Baseball Field. The Prairie Stars won game one by a 9-3 score, but lost the second game by an 8-5 margin.
 
UIS led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth in game one, but broke the game open with six runs after that.
 
Colton Hale was the winner after throwing five innings and allowing one run and three hits. He struck out six in the game. Chris Mathieu had four hits, and Brandon Bannon had three hits, including a homer, two runs, and two RBI. Nick Mayerhofer also scored twice, and Kal Youngquist and Asher Bradd each had two RBI.
 
In the second game, Rockhurst was the one to jump out early, leading 5-0 after four innings. UIS got its offense going late, but three unearned runs by Rockhurst in the sixth proved to be the difference.
 
Bannon hit another homer, and he and Bradd both had two RBI. Anthony Deconcilis and Bradd collected two hits apiece.
 
UIS is now 19-3 on the season and 15-3 in conference action. The Prairie Stars and Hawks will conclude the series with another doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.