GALESBURG, Illinois - The Prairie Fire baseball team split a conference doubleheader with Grinnell on Saturday, falling 5-2 in game one and winning game two 13-3. Before the game, Knox honored their 12 seniors before the game: Manager Oscar Sanchez, Ben Bartholomew, Ben Bucher, Avery Dean, James Lyman, Chase Thies, Joey Salazar, Jake Ripple, Flynn Hersh, Chris McTeague, EJ Roncone, and Matt Shover.

The Pioneers hit solo homers in the first and third innings of game one to take an early lead. Some Prairie Fire defensive miscues allowed Grinnell to score three runs in the fourth inning, but Knox didn't allow another run the remainder of the game. The Prairie Fire scored a run in the sixth inning and another in the ninth, but lost despite bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth.

Knox struck for three runs in the first inning of game two as Jason Clark knocked a two RBI triple. The Pioneers and Prairie Fire traded runs in the third inning and Grinnell added two more runs in the fourth to cut into the Knox lead. The Prairie Fire erupted for eight runs in the sixth to take a commanding lead and plated one more in the seventh to win in seven innings. Shover went the distance on the mound for Knox, allowing one earned run on four hits. He struck out four and walked none.

Braden Ogden led the Prairie Fire at the plate with a 4-for-4 day. Clark and McTeague each added three hits. McTeague drove in three runs, including the walkoff in the seventh inning of game two.

"This is the best we have played in the last few weeks," said associate head coach James Clark. "We have been trending this way for awhile, but finally put it all together. It was nice to get all of the seniors involved today and send them out on a good note."

Knox returns to action for their final game of the season as they travel to Grinnell on May 8.