JACKSONVILLE, Illinois—The Prairie Fire baseball team swept a doubleheader against Robert Morris-Springfield on Saturday to open the season.
Knox (2-0) got on the board early and often scoring a total of 35 runs in the twin bill. The Prairie Fire banged out 29 total hits and totaled 25 walks on the day. The pitching staff combined to give up only three earned runs, 11 hits, and six walks while striking out 17 batters.
Drake Sykes (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) picked up where he left off last year, going 6-for-7 with three doubles, a home-run, and nine RBI.
Tristyn Ruiz (Waukegan, IL, Waukegan),
Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East), and
Matt McCaffrey (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) each scored five runs. Ruiz stole three bases and McCaffrey homered.
Juston Woodard (Oak Lawn, IL, Mount Carmel) knocked a home-run for his first career hit.
Brendan Powers (Bourbonnais, IL, Bradley-Bourbonnais) had a 4-for-9 effort at the plate with three runs scored and four runs batted in. Catchers
Kam Wells (Champaign, IL, Champaign Central) and
Nick Van Witzenburg (Lake in the Hills, IL, Crystal Lake South) each had two hits and three RBI.
Kosuke Nishitani (Plano, TX, Plano West) and
Andrew Recker (Huntingburg, IN, Southridge) each tallied two hits.
Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) fired five innings to pick up the win in game one. He gave up just four hits and three runs, none earned while striking out seven.
Trevan Lowtharp (Rockford, IL, Winnebago) earned his first career win in the second game.
Knox returns to action when they travel to Florida for spring break.
