Sophomore Drake Sykes closed out the Prairie Fire's spring break trip to Florida on a tear at the plate. He recorded three multi-hit games in the last four contests – two of them wins – and was 9-for-15 (.600) at the dish during that stretch with six RBI, six runs scored, and three stolen bases.
Sykes, who started all eight games in center field, belted a double and a triple with an RBI and three runs scored in a 5-2 victory in the first game of a doubleheader against Lasell College on March 20. He followed with three hits, two RBI, three stolen bases, and one run scored in the twinbill finale against the Lasers. Sykes continued his hot hitting the next day against Edgewood College. He went 3-for-3, drove in two runs, and scored one to help Knox take the first of two games, 3-2, against the Eagles. Sykes extended his hitting streak to four straight with an RBI single in the second game against Edgewood.
Sykes batted a team-best .400 (12-for-30) during the eight games in Fort Myers and led the squad in total hits, extra-base hits (5), runs batted in, total bases (20), and slugging percentage (.556). Defensively, Sykes committed only one error in 24 chances.
