Game One
Game Two
The Prairie Fire rallied late to win the first game of a doubleheader April 6 at Robert Morris University in Springfield before falling in the nightcap to earn a split against the Eagles.
Knox (5-12) broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth inning with three runs and sophomore reliever Gabe Ayers (Hanna City, Illinois) allowed just one run in 2 1/3 innings of relief to earn the 5-3 win in eight innings in the first game.
The Prairie Fire got on the board with a run in the first inning off of RMU starter Josh Ramirez. First-year outfielder Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, Illinois) led off the game with a double and came around to score on a groundout by senior Bob Dempster (Oak Lawn, Illinois).
The Eagles (16-10) tied the game in their first at bat off with two outs of Knox starter Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, Illinois). Garrett Moyer walked, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. He scored the tying run, which was unearned, when clean-up hitter Jason Del Toro reached first on an error by first-year second baseman Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, Illinois). Marquardt got out of the inning when Pete Dayton flied out to first-year center fielder Dustin Amrstrong (Worthington, Ohio).
The Prairie Fire regained the lead at 2-1 with another run in the second inning. O'Connell atoned for his miscue at second base with a two-out single. First-year infielder Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, Illinois) singled and O'Connell scored on an error by right fielder Tyler Novy.
RMU followed suit with a run in the bottom of the second on three hits to tie the game at 2-2. Marquardt blanked the Eagles over the next 3 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits. He finished his strong outing with five strikeouts and four walks.
Ayers relieved Marquardt with two outs in the sixth. He coaxed a groundout by Chris Sekardi to get out of a bases-loaded jam and keep the score tied at 2-2. Ayers set Robert Morris down in order in the seventh inning, setting up what proved to be the game-winning top of the eighth inning for the Prairie Fire.
RMU reliever Matt Sellers, who came on for Ramirez with one out in the seventh and escaped that inning without allowing a run, began the eighth by forcing sophomore Matt Lee (Fullerton, California) to ground out. Sellers walked junior David Jewell, who scored on Dempster's double to give the Prairie Fire a 3-2 lead. Sophomore C.J. Foster (Batavia, Illinois) singled, advancing Dempster to third. Foster was lifted for pinch runner Doug Lillibridge (Byron, Illinois). The sophomore Lillibridge moved to second base on an errant pick-off throw by Sellers, allowing Dempster to score for a 4-2 lead. Lillibridge stole third and came around to score the fifth and final run for Knox on Schroeder's sacrifice fly RBI to right field.
Ayers hit RMU's Jonathan Laygo with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Laygo scored on a double by Novy, allowing the Eagles to close the gap to 5-3. Ayers got the next two batters to ground out to secure the hard-earned victory for Knox, which snapped a six-game losing streak.
Ayers (1-2) earned the win for the Prairie Fire. He tossed 2 1/3 innings and surrendered one run, one hit and struck out two. Sellers took the loss. Smoy led the Fire offense with two hits while Jewell, Dempster, Schroeder and Tallman had each drove in a run. The Prairie Fire outhit Robert Morris 7-6 in the game.
RMU earned the split with an 11-1 win in the second game.
The Eagles got off to a fast start, scoring eight runs (all earned) on seven hits in the first inning off of senior starter Jordan Ball (Cuba, Illinois), who suffered the loss (0-3).
RMU scored its three other runs on five hits in the second inning.
The Knox bullpen was effective against Robert Morris the rest of the way. First-year hurlers Bryan Leslie (Richmond, Illinois) and Jackson White (Grayslake, Illinois) combined to throw five innings of relief. Leslie allowed three runs on five hits and struck out one in two innings while White - in his longest outing of the season - shut out the Eagles in three innings of relief. He gave up just two hits and walked two.
Knox scored its only run of the game in the fourth inning off of Robert Morris starting pitcher Cory Wilson. Jewell led off with a triple and scored on a groundout by Dempster.
The Prairie Fire had six hits in the finale to 15 for the Eagles. Wilson, who picked up the win, threw five innings and allowed one earned run on four hits with one strikeout and one walk. Niko Boeker pitched the final two innings of relief for RMU, shutting out the Fire on a pair of hits.
Knox resumes Midwest Conference South Division play Saturday at Grinnell College. The Pioneers handed the Prairie Fire its two MWC South losses to date April 2 at Blodgett Field in the home opener for Knox. Coach Jami Isaccson's squad is looking for its first league victory of the 2011 campaign.
