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Springfield, Ill. – The Prairie Fire got back in the win column by taking the second game of a Midwest Conference South Division doubleheader against Illinois College.

IC won the first game 12-11 in 11 innings while Knox bounced back with a big 12-1 win in seven innings in the finale on Sunday.

The Prairie Fire built a five run lead after falling behind early in the opener, but the Blueboys came back and won it in the bottom of the 11th.

IC charged out to a 4-0 advantage through the first two innings when the Knox offense got busy. 

Senior Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) singled in a run with the bases loaded to get the Prairie Fire on the board.  Sophomores Drew Osborn (Moline, IL, Moline) and Austin Bevenue (Millstadt, IL, Belleville Althoff) both walked with the sacks packed, scoring two more runs to cut the deficit to one.  A single by senior Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton) scored Smoy, tying the game 4-4.

Knox continued its surge, plating five more runs in the top of the fourth for a 9-4 lead.

Smoy delivered another RBI single for the first run of the inning.  First-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) followed with an RBI single that the right fielder had trouble corralling, allowing two more runs to cross the plate.  A sacrifice fly by Osborn brought Weitendorf home with the Prairie Fire's ninth run.

IC (16-10, 5-3 MWC South) closed the gap to 9-6 with a two run fifth inning.

First-year Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island) got one of the runs back for Knox with an RBI single in the top of the seventh.  Illinois College again drew within three at 10-7 with a run-scoring double in the bottom of the fifth.

Sophomore Blake Newberg (Moline, IL, Rock Island Alleman) singled to drive in Osborn in the bottom of the eighth to push the lead to 11-7.

IC rallied, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth and tying the game, 11-11, with two more runs in the the ninth inning.

The Blueboys won it in the bottom of the 11th with a two out single off first-year Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton).

The Prairie Fire (11-11, 2-6 MWC South) had 13 hits.  Smoy was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.  Osborn also had two hits and two runs batted in while Sanders added two hits, two runs, and an RBI.  Bevenue got on base four times with two hits and a pair of walks.

Jordan (1-2) was charged with the loss.  He worked 1 2/3 innings of relief and allowed one run on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

Knox broke open the finale with a three run fifth inning. 

Leading 2-0 after Smoy drove in both runs on a fielder's choice in the first and a single in the third, Weitendorf reached on an error that scored Sanders and Leslie singled to bring in Osborn and Weitendorf for a 5-0 advantage.

IC got a run back on a solo homer in the top of the fifth, one of only two extra base hits allowed by Prairie Fire junior pitcher Ryder Borre (Wilmette, IL, New Trier).

Smoy hurt the Blueboys with a triple that scored three runs in the top of the sixth.  The Knox lead grew to 10-1 after Weitendorf and Osborn both doubled in a run.

The Prairie Fire closed out the scoring with a pair of runs in the seventh inning.  Sanders singled home sophomore Cody Boal (The Sea Ranch, CA, Dunn School) and then scored on Smoy's second triple of the game.

Smoy went 3-for-5 at the plate with six RBIs as Knox outhit IC 15-6.  Sanders added three hits and four runs and Osborn had three hits as well.

Borre (2-1) was dominant, striking out eight with no walks over seven innings to earn the win.

The Prairie Fire visit Augustana College (15-8) for a non-conference game on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.