GAME #1
Illinois College 4
Knox College 3

Galesburg, IL - The Prairie Fire got on the board early when junior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) hit a two-run homer, his fifth of the season, in the bottom of the first inning.  Illinois College came back with four runs in the top of the third.  Terry Davis doubled home three runs with the bases loaded and T.J. Albers added an RBI single in support of starting pitcher Nate Jones.  Knox added a run in the bottom of the sixth as sophomorePhil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South ) scored when sophomore Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) was caught stealing.  The Prairie Fire had a chance to add more runs with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh inning.  IC got out of the jam by inducing a double-play ground ball followed by a strike out.  Jones (4-3) tossed seven innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits with two strike outs to earn the victory.  Nick Visconti pitched two scoreless frames and struck out three to pick up his first save of the year.  First-year pitcherKenny Blanchard (Morton Grove, IL, Niles West) got the start for Knox and suffered the loss.  Blanchard (4-2) exited the game after just 2 1/3 innings and allowed four earned runs on three hits.  Junior Gabe Ayers (Hanna City, IL, Farmington Community) came on in relief and held the Blueboys in check by scattering five hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings.

GAME #2
Knox College 12
Illinois College 0

Galesburg, IL - Knox celebrated Senior Day and Jim Isaacson Day with a lopsided victory that will result in more baseball this season for the Prairie Fire.  Jim Isaacson, who has coached for nearly 50 years in Galesburg and is retiring after this season as the Fire's associate head coach, was honored before the doubleheader.  Knox's three seniors:Kyle Grimes (Lawrence, KS, Lawrence), Dexter Brown (Saint Joseph, MN, St. John's Prep), and David Jewell (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton ) were also recognized - along with their families - in the pregame festivities.  The Prairie Fire jumped on IC starting pitcher Ian Richardson, scoring two runs in the first inning, four in the second, and one in the third for a 7-0 lead.  Richardson (4-2) exited the game after just one inning of work and six runs allowed on seven hits.  White had a big day for Knox with three hits and five runs batted in.  Tallman and sophomore Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) had two hits apiece and three RBI while junior Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) contributed three hits.  The Prairie Fire outhit the Blueboys 16-6.  Nick Visconti and Adam Hamerlinck each had a pair of hits for IC.  First-year hurler Nathaniel Grady (Antelope, CA, Oakmont) was solid in his start for Knox.  Grady (2-2) gave up six hits in six shutout innings and struck out two.  Sophomore Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) struck out the side for the hosts in the top of the seventh inning.  The Prairie Fire earned a berth in the MWC Tournament, the first since 2008, with the victory.  Knox won the conference title that year and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  The Fire currently sits in second place behind Midwest Conference South Division leader Grinnell College (13-14, 6-1 MWC South).  The two teams will resume a game that was postponed because of darkness earlier this season at Blodgett Field.  The teams were tied at 8-8 going into the top of the ninth inning when play was halted.  That game will be followed by a doubleheader on May 6 at Grinnell.


Records:
Knox College (13-15, 6-3 MWC South)
Illinois College (20-13, 5-7 MWC South)