The University of Illinois Springfield baseball pitching staff was the highlight on Saturday as the Prairie Stars swept Southern Indiana in a doubleheader. Colton Hale became the school's all-time wins leader in the 9-2 game one victory, and UIS struck out 14 batters in seven innings in the 19-2 second game win.
 
Hale won his 23rd career game in the opener, moving past Andrew Dean who he tied a couple of weeks ago. Hale is now 23-3 in his four-year career, including a 14-1 record over the last two seasons when he has been one of the team's primary starters.
 
Hale threw 5 2/3 innings against the Screaming Eagles, and allowed just three hits, one walk, and two runs. He struck out seven batters.
 
Matt Blaney made the biggest out in the game, preserving the win for Hale. He entered with UIS ahead 3-2 in the seventh, and Southern Indiana having runners on the corner with one out. Blaney got two strikeouts to get out of the jam, and allowing UIS to break open the game with six runs in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Nick Mayerhofer led the offense, hitting two home runs and having four BRI. Austin Alderman also homered and had two hits, two runs and two RBI. Brant Vanaman had two hits and two runs.
 
In the second game, UIS broke open a 3-0 game with 16 runs in its final three at-bats.
 
The top three in the UIS lineup, Asher Bradd, Brandon Bannon, and Zion Pettigrew, combined for eight hits and nine runs. Pettigrew had six RBI, including a grand slam. Alderman had four hits, three RBI, and two runs, and Mayerhofer remained hot with two runs. Bobby Barnard scored three times, had three hits, and collected two RBI.
 
On the mound, Blake Begner went five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and two walks. He struck out 10 batters. A.J. Golembiewski got the final six outs, four by strikeouts.
 
UIS improves to 22-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Prairie Stars and Southern Indiana conclude their four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday at the UIS Baseball Field.