GALESBURG, Illinois—The Prairie Fire baseball team earned a victory over Robert Morris-Peoria on Wednesday afternoon in their final tune-up before the Midwest Conference season opens up.

Knox (4-7) got the bats rolling early after setting down the Eagles 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Paul Sanders led off with a single in the bottom half, stole second, and advance to third on a bunt single by Dalton James. Matt McCaffrey was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Kobe Shutter drove in a pair with a one-out single. Brendan Powers and Auggie Ward singled and then Juston Woodard doubled and Andrew Recker singled to give the Prairie Fire five straight hits. Knox led 6-0 after the first inning.

Robert Morris picked up a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third on a Darren Raby double, but Knox got one back in the bottom half on a double from James.

Kobe Shutter homered in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 9-2 and the Prairie Fire picked up two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI groundout from James and double by Billy Ballantine.

Knox scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh when a pair of groundouts, including another RBI groundout by James, scored Woodard.

Shutter finished 3-for-5 with four RBI to lead the hit parade. Sanders, James, Powers, and Recker each picked up a pair. James finished with three RBI and Woodard knocked in two.

Tom Janczur picked up his first win of the season by tossing the first four innings. He allowed two unearned runs while striking out two and giving up just three hits and no walks.

The Prairie Fire will host Monmouth on March 29 in their conference opener.