SPRINGFIELD, Illinois -- PNW Baseball returned to the diamond for games number two and three of the season against the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars. After taking an early lead, a fourth inning rally from the Prairie Stars would be too much for the Pride to overcome, dropping game one 8-1. UIS used their momentum from game one to strike early in game two, scoring 11 runs in the first two innings and besting the Pride 17-3.
Game One: UIS 8, PNW 1
After a quality at bat from
Anthony Agne and some patience from
Alex Batistatos, the Pride found runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the first inning. Agne would eventually come around to score on a ground ball from
Hunter Thorn, giving PNW an early 1-0 lead.
A quick and quiet three innings from starter
Chad Patrick kept the Pride ahead until the fourth as the Prairie Stars were able to load the bases with no outs (2 hits, 1 walk). UIS scored 4 runs on three hits in the half inning, pushing past PNW 4-1. Despite a few more opportunities, the Pride were not able to capitalize offensively, leaving nine runners on base in game one. UIS scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth, ultimately defeating the Pride in the first game of the doubleheader 8-1.
Game Two: UIS 17, PNW 3
Looking to redeem themselves in game three of the series, the wheels fell off early for the Black and Gold, and the Prairie Stars scored 11 runs on 9 hits in the first two innings. The Pride were able to get two back in the fourth on a sack fly from
Nathan Lovisa and an RBI single from Agne, and one more in the fifth on an RBI groundout from
Jacob Soules. Despite a few late runs from PNW, Springfield did not let off of the gas, besting the Pride 17-3 in seven innings.
Senior third basemen
Ray Hansen continued his hot weekend, notching three hits with a double and a run scored in game two.
Caden Bell threw two scoreless innings out of the pen, giving up just one hit and striking out four.
The Pride will return to the field on Wednesday, March 4 as they welcome the University of St. Francis (Ill.) for the first home game of the season. First pitch is at 3 PM (CT) at Dowling Park in Hammond, Indiana.
