Illinois Springfield baseball (11-6) secured a 14-11 victory over Davenport (6-10) on Sunday at the UIS Baseball Field. The home team was powered by six doubles and two home runs, effectively overcoming a five-run second inning by the visitors.

Davenport took an early lead in the second inning when a hit by pitch was followed by a 3 RBI double and an RBI single. This gave the Panthers a 5-0 advantage. UIS responded in the bottom half when Kaden Griffitts walked and later scored on Brian Daker's RBI double. Parker Heistand then doubled to bring home Daker, making it 5-2 at the end of the second.

In the third inning, Kaden Griffitts hit a two-run homer, bringing UIS within one run at 5-4. Third baseman Johnny Wendling leveled the score in the fourth inning with a solo home run.

The Prairie Stars took the lead in the fifth inning. After Tommy Atkinson singled and Kody Morton walked, a wild pitch advanced both runners, and Corey Boyette's sacrifice fly allowed Atkinson to score. Morton then came in on another wild pitch, increasing the lead to 7-5.

UIS extended its lead with four more runs in the sixth inning. Doubles by Atkinson and Morton highlighted that rally. Morton later scored on a walk by Johnny Wendling, bringing the score to 11-5.

In the seventh, Davenport cut the deficit with a two-RBI triple. UIS answered back with a sacrifice fly by Morton and an RBI double by Boyette, making it 13-7 through seven innings. UIS added another run in the eighth when Daker scored after being hit by a pitch, extending the lead to 14-7.

Davenport rallied in the ninth, taking advantage of three errors and scoring four runs, but it was not enough. The Prairie Stars secured a 14-11 victory.

Mark DeCicco pitched five innings, allowing five earned runs on four hits, striking out six. He earned the win to bring his record to 1-1. Illinois Springfield went to the bullpen for the final four innings, using multiple relievers to protect the lead. Austin Loberger closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one to close the victory.

Tommy Atkinson recorded three hits, including two doubles, and drove in two runs. Kody Morton contributed with a double and three RBIs, scoring twice. Kaden Griffitts hit a home run, tallying two runs and two RBIs. Johnny Wendling also added a home run, collecting one run and one RBI.

Series Recap
Over the high-scoring four-game series, the Prairie Stars offense produced several standout performances. Corey Boyette hit .500 (7-for-14) with two doubles, a home run, six RBIs, and five walks, finishing the weekend with a .619 on-base percentage. Tommy Atkinson also collected seven hits, batting .467 with two doubles, a home run, six RBIs, and nine runs scored.

Kaden Griffitts added two home runs while batting .333, and Kody Morton drove in a team-high seven RBIs across the series. Drew Ezard also hit two home runs and totaled six RBIs during the four games.

On the mound earlier in the series, two standout starts helped pace the Prairie Stars: Ben Benoit struck out six batters over five innings on Friday, while Trey Carter recorded nine strikeouts in five innings on Saturday.

The Prairie Stars hold an overall record of 11-6. Davenport has an overall record of 6-10.

Up Next
In their next game, the Prairie Stars will travel to face William Jewell at 5:00 p.m. Friday in Liberty, Mo., for their conference opener.