Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – Illinois College posted a pair of lopsided Midwest Conference South Division victories against the Prairie Fire on a rainy Sunday to sweep the season series.

Knox lost the first game 14-3 in seven innings, followed by a 12-2 defeat in the finale, also in seven innings.  The Blueboys tallied 30 hits and 12 walks in the doubleheader.

The Prairie Fire led 1-0 in the opener on a single by first-year Matt McCaffrey (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) in the top of the first inning.  IC answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, three more in the second, and four in the fourth frame to go up 9-1.

Knox (9-18, 3-9) got a two-run single by sophomore Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) in the top of the fifth that shaved the deficit to six.  Two innings later the lead grew to 11.

IC (13-13, 6-2) had 18 hits in the game, 12 of them from the first three hitters in the lineup.  Sophomore Drake Sykes (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) was 3-for-3 with a stolen base and sophomore Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island) added two hits and a steal for the Prairie Fire.

Senior Ryder Borre (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) suffered the loss on the mound for Knox.

The Blueboys built a 5-0 lead through three innings in the second game when Weitendorf hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth to keep his team close.

IC pushed runs across in the bottom of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings before ending the contest with four in the bottom of the seventh.

Illinois College held a 12-6 edge in hits, drew eight walks – one intentional – and reached base three times after being hit by a pitch.

Weitendorf and first-year Brandon Dempsey (Washington, IL, Washington) had two hits apiece to lead the Prairie Fire.  First-year pitcher Zach Chainuck (Plainfield, IL, Plainfield East) started the game and was charged with the loss.

Knox steps out of conference for a game under the lights on Wednesday at Augustana College at 7:00 p.m.