After dropping the series opener at Truman State on Thursday, the UIS baseball team bounced back by winning both games of Friday’s doubleheader. The Prairie Stars claimed a 9-2 victory in the first game and followed with a 7-3 win in the second, showcasing timely hitting and strong pitching to take control of the series.
GAME TWO | W, 9-2
UIS totaled 14 hits, including two home runs and a triple, while limiting Truman to just five hits over the seven innings. Truman struck first with an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the first to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. Truman added another run in the second in a similar situation.
The Prairie Stars put up their first run of the day in the fourth inning as Kaden Griffitts homered to right center, cutting the deficit to 2-1. UIS took control in the fifth with a series of clutch hits. Johnny Wendling’s RBI triple, Griffitts’ double, and a sacrifice fly by Jesse Contreras fueled a five-run frame, giving UIS a 6-2 lead. Boyette added a solo home run in the sixth, and UIS scored two more in the seventh to seal the 9-2 victory.
Trey Carter pitched five strong innings, striking out six, while Zach O’Donnell provided two scoreless innings of relief. Corey Boyette and Kaden Griffitts each totaled three hits, including a home run and a double, with Boyette driving in one run and Griffitts two.
GAME THREE | W, 7-3
UIS recorded eight hits, including five doubles and a home run. Corey Boyette opened the scoring with a solo homer to right field in the first inning.
The Prairie Stars extended their lead to 6-0 in the third inning, hitting three doubles in the frame. Kody Morton’s drove in Boyette and Atkinson, Griffitts followed with another for one RBI, and Jesse Contreras capped the inning with a two-RBI double. Chris Suchoski scored in the fourth inning on Boyette’s double. Truman scored once in the seventh, but UIS held on for a 7-3 victory.
Mark DeCicco pitched four innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, while Austin Lobergerrelieved with three innings, allowing four hits and one run. Corey Boyette continued his hot streak with two hits, two RBIs, and two runs, while Kody Morton and Jesse Contreras each drove in two runs.
The twin victories improve UIS to 24-8 overall and 13-2 in the conference, while Truman falls to 9-23 and 3-16.
Up Next
The series finale is scheduled for noon on Saturday in Kirksville, Mo.
