AUBURNDALE, Florida—The Prairie Fire baseball team dropped their first game in Florida to RPI 8-5.

Knox (2-1) led early in the game, but a five-run misstep in the fourth inning gave RPI the lead for good.

Tristyn Ruiz (Waukegan, IL, Waukegan) and Drake Sykes (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) each tallied two hits to lead the Prairie Fire. Sykes, Alex Bell (Elgin, IL, Burlington Central), and Tristan Hannah (Chicago, IL, Lindblom) each had an RBI.

Day two:

Central defeated the Prairie Fire 9-5 on Wednesday morning. After falling behind 5-0 early, Knox battled back to a 5-3 deficit in the seventh inning. Central took advantage of two errors in the top of the eighth to extend their lead and held on for the win and move the Prairie Fire to 2-2 on the season.

Bell and Juston Woodard (Oak Lawn, IL, Mount Carmel) both earned two hits in four trips to the plate to lead Knox. Woodard, Hannah, Nick Van Witzenburg (Lake in the Hills, IL, Crystal Lake South), and Kobe Shutter (Kankakee, IL, Bishop McNamara) each drove in a run.

Day three:

Knox fell to Cairn 6-3 on Friday morning to move to 2-3 on the season.

Kam Wells (Champaign, IL, Champaign Central) tallied 2 hits in three at bats to lead the Prairie Fire. Matt Mueller (Silex, MO, Silex) hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, but Knox could not hold on to win.

Trevan Lowtharp (Rockford, IL, Winnebago) started for the Prairie Fire and gave up only two runs over seven innings. 
Day four: 

The bats were hot for the Prairie Fire on Saturday, but Knox (2-4) gave up a six run ninth inning to take a tough 9-8 loss.

Matt McCaffrey (Wilmette, IL, New Trier), Woodard, and Ruiz each ended the day 3-for-5 at the plate. McCaffrey added a triple and two RBI. Brendan Powers (Bourbonnais, IL, Bradley-Bourbonnais) added a 2-for-4 effort with a triple. Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) also put forth a 2-for-4 effort at the plate.

Logan Thake (Amboy, IL, Amboy) pitched a gem for the Prairie Fire, firing 5.2 innings and surrendering three runs.

Day five:

Another great pitching performance led to a 5-3 win for the Prairie Fire over Loras on Sunday.

Knox (3-4) led 3-0 into the eighth inning, but Loras rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. The Prairie Fire answered right back with two runs in the top of the ninth and held on for the win.

Shutter led Knox at the plate with three hits in five at bats. He drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth with a double. McCaffrey added a 2-for-5 performance and Knox got RBI from Wells, Weitendorf, and Sykes.

Stryker Davies (Glenrock, WY, Glenrock) ended up giving up three runs in 7.2 innings, but held the Duhawks scoreless through seven innings. Tom Janczur (Darien, IL, Downer's Grove South) came on in relief to earn the win.

Final day:

The Prairie Fire took control early in a 10-2 win over Thomas in their final game in Florida.

Knox (4-4) got another strong pitching performance and took the lead in the middle innings to cruise to victory.

Shutter had a monster game at the plate with four hits in five at bats, including a triple, a double, and 5 RBI. Ruiz, Bell, and Dalton James (Homer, IL, Heritage) each tripled in the game as well. Powers also added a double.

Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) picked up his second win of the season while giving up two runs over six innings. He struck out 12 batters and walked none.

Knox will return to action on March 25 when they travel to Beloit for a doubleheader.