The University of Illinois Springfield baseball team won both games on Saturday afternoon against Southwest Baptist as they chase a conference tournament spot. The Prairie Stars improve to 25-18 overall with a 16-14 record in the GLVC. The Bearcats fall to 10-34 overall with a 7-23 record in conference play. 

GAME ONE (W, 18-7)

• Ivan Dahlberg and TJ Yakimisky hit back-to-back home runs as the Prairie Stars jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first

• SBU responded with an RBI single and an RBI double in the second to make it a one-run game

• Jackson Blemler hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the second to extend the lead

• Mack Clark then blasted a 3-run homer in the third to make it 8-2 UIS

• The Bearcats hit a 2-run home run themselves to trim the UIS advantage

• Blemler responded with another 2-run home run to get the runs right back

• Jacyk Uehling singled in the fifth, bringing home another run as UIS took an 11-4 lead

• SBU scored three runs in the sixth to put pressure on the Prairie Stars

• In the seventh inning UIS took full control of the game

• Mack Clark hit another home run to make it 12-7

• Jacyk Uehling hit an RBI single

• Brant Vanaman drove home another run with a sacrifice fly

• Mark Kattula hit a single to bring two more runs home

• Ivan Dahlberg capped off Game One with another home run for the Stars as they run-ruled the Bearcats

• Adam Wibbenmeyer (2-2) earned the win in 2.2 innings pitched, striking out four

GAME TWO (W, 8-1)

• The second game didn't start with as much offense as the first did, but UIS was still able to take a lead in the third inning

• The Stars loaded the bases as TJ Yakimisky was walked

• Mack Clark then grounded into a fielder's choice, bringing home another run

• The Prairie Stars opened the game up in the fourth as Jackson Blemler reached on an error by the second baseman, bringing home another run

• Mark Kattula hit an RBI single to left field

• TJ Yakimisky then singled up the middle to bring home a run, giving UIS a 5-0 lead

• SBU got one run back in the fifth with an RBI single

• UIS got back to their home run hitting ways with one from both Brant Vanaman and Ivan Dahlberg to lead 8-1

• The Bearcats threatened in the seventh, but Kyle Tyler struck out the final two batters to seal the win

• Jacob Newman (4-5) earned the win in 5.2 innings pitched, striking out 9 while only giving up 3 hits

The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader for the last home games of the 2024 season. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Senior recognition will occur before the first game around 11:30 a.m.