The University of Illinois Springfield baseball team improved its record to 20-6 with a sweep of the Indianapolis Greyhounds at the UIS Baseball Field this weekend.
GAME ONE (W, 11-10)
Johnny Czeslawski earned his first win of the season and
Ian Delleman got the save when UIS took down Indianapolis in a close game to open the series. The Prairie Stars scored one run in four straight innings before the Greyhounds produced five runs in the top of the fifth. A home run by
Asher Bradd was the first of three runs in the sixth inning for UIS, then the Prairie Stars scored four runs in the next inning to take the lead for the last time. Bradd went 3-for-4 and scored three runs, and
Brandon Bannon tallied two hits and three runs.
GAME TWO (W, 5-3)
Mike O'Conor hit a home run for the fourth straight game in the second game of the series, helping UIS to a 5-3 win. The offense combined for six hits including three by
Asher Bradd, two by
Mike O'Conor and one by
TJ Yakimisky.
Ryan Carmack allowed just four hits and three runs, tallying ten strikeouts in his seven innings to earn the win. The Greyhounds scored all three of their runs in the first inning and left eight runners on base during the matchup.
GAME THREE (W, 3-0)
Adam Brouwer improved his record to 3-0 when he struck out five batters in five innings to lead UIS to a 3-0 game three win.
Braden Roesch recorded six strikeouts in the final two innings, in which he allowed just one hit, to earn the save.
The Prairie Stars scored on two home runs by
Zach Dillman. Dillman's sixth inning homer sent
Mike O'Conor home. O'Conor and
Asher Bradd each had one hit in game three.
GAME FOUR (W, 11-6)
UIS and Indianapolis each hit three home runs to end the series in thrilling fashion. The Prairie Star's home runs were by
Zach Dillman,
Brandon Bannon, and
Mike O'Conor. UIS scored three runs before Indianapolis could get on the board, but the Greyhounds worked their way into the lead with a double, two singles, and two homers in the fifth inning. The Prairie Stars offense combined for five more runs before Indianapolis scored two runs in a last-chance effort.
Connor McKenna and
Tyler Horvath each recorded three runs, combining for six of the team's ten. Johnny Czeslawksi earned the win after allowing just one hit and striking out two of the five batters he faced.
Ryan Carmack, the NCAA Division II leader for strikeouts per nine innings, recorded his 65th strikeout of the season on Saturday. Carmack averages 17.73 K/9 and is followed in the standings by two GLVC pitchers.
Asher Bradd's .495 batting average lands him second in the NCAA Division II standings. Bradd has tallied 46 hits in 93 at bats and has a .547 on base percentage.
The Prairie Stars, now 10-2 in conference play, will take on GLVC rival Quincy next weekend. The team's last met in the Midwest Super Regional last May. The Quincy Hawks baseball team was ranked eighth in the NCBWA rankings last week.
