Box Score JOPLIN, Mo. --- There proved to be plenty of offense Saturday afternoon between Minnesota State and Illinois-Springfield, but it was the Prairie Stars who were able to come away with the 11-9 win at Warren Turner Field.

With the loss, MSU droped to 0-2. With the win, UIS improved to 4-1.

"It was a back and forth game but UIS was a little bit better at the end," head coach Matt Magers said. "We were able to score in multiple innings but were unable to bust it open. Mack Crowley stood out pitching in relief, keeping us in the game throughout the middle innings."

Junior Jake Matthaidess (0-1) took the loss as he allowed four runs in one inning of relief. Freshman Mack Crowley threw three shutout innings in relief for the Mavericks as he struck out four batters. Kyle Tyler (1-0) earned the win as he allowed one run in three innings of relief while striking out four batters. Lucas Pajeau earned the save as he gave up one run in the top of the ninth.

The offense was out in force early as the Mavericks led 6-5 after four innings. MSU got on the scoreboard right away in the top of the first as a walk and a pair of hit batters loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore Louis Magers then drove in a pair of runs with a single to center field to put MSU up 2-0. MSU managed to load the bases again but UIS was able to get the final two outs to get out of the inning. The Prairie Stars answered right back in the bottom of the first however as an RBI-double Brant Vanaman and a bases loaded walk tied the game at 2-2.

The Mavericks added another run in the top of the second to go up 3-2, but a three-run home run by UIS' Mark Kattula put the Prairie Stars up 5-3. MSU then answered right back in the top of the third with two runs scored via a hit batter with the bases loaded and a fielder's choice. The Mavericks then took a 6-5 lead in the top of the fourth as senior Ryan Wickman tripled and then scored on an RBI-single by Magers.

The Mavericks scored two more runs, including an RBI groundout by junior Aiden Byrne in the fifth and a sacrifice fly by Byrne in the seventh, to go up 8-6. UIS' sixth run of the game came via a sacrifice fly from Kattula in the bottom of the sixth.

The Prairie Stars then rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh as they recorded three hits, including a three-run home run by TJ Yakimisky, to take a 10-8 lead. Another run by the Prairie Stars in the bottom of the eighth would put them up by three at 11-8.

MSU managed to get one run back in the top of the ninth via a solo home run from senior Adam Weed but the Mavericks would get no closer as Illinois-Springfield held on to the 11-9 win.
Magers finished his day with three hits and three RBI, while Weed coaxed four walks, to go along with his solo home run in the ninth. Senior Hunter Ranweiler scored three runs and recorded two extra base hits as well.

Minnesota State wraps up play in the Missouri Southern Lion Classic on Sunday as it takes on Northwest Missouri State at 4:00 p.m.


 
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