Tallman was instrumental in the Prairie Fire’s perfect 4-0 week that included two doubleheader sweeps of Illinois College and the Midwest Conference South Division title.
The junior second baseman had five hits, including the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning, in a 5-4 come from behind victory against the Blueboys on May 5 at Blodgett Field. The loss eliminated IC from the Midwest Conference Tournament race.
Tallman was 7-for-8 at the plate in the doubleheader against Illinois College at home. Knox also swept IC 4-2 and 6-5 in 11 innings on May 2 at Lenz Field in Jacksonville. Tallman, during the four games with the Blueboys, was 9-for-16 (.563 average) with an RBI, three runs, one walk, and reached base twice after he was hit by pitches.
The Prairie Fire’s lead-off hitter, Tallman is batting .314 this season with six RBIs, 38 hits, 11 walks (#3 on the team), 12 stolen bases (leads the team), and 31 runs scored (#2 on the team).
In Midwest Conference games Tallman led the team with a .394 average to go along with 26 hits (#2 on the team), 16 runs (tied for the team lead), seven walks (tied for the team lead), five stolen bases (#2 on the team), and a .461 on base percentage that led all regulars.
Tallman and his Prairie Fire teammates are shooting for the baseball program's first Midwest Conference championship since 2008 beginning Friday, May 10 at the 2013 MWC Tournament hosted by Ripon College.
Knox (21-11, 13-3 MWC South) opens against St. Norbert College (24-11, 12-4 MWC North) at 9:00 a.m. on Friday at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The winner plays on Friday at 1:00 p.m. against the winner of the other opening game between host Ripon College (20-13, 14-2 MWC North) and Grinnell College (13-19, 8-8 MWC South).
The teams that drop their opening games square off on Friday at 4:00 p.m.
All games after the Knox/St. Norbert contest in Fond du Lac will be played at Francis Field on the Ripon College campus.
