AUBURNDALE, Florida - The Prairie Fire baseball team defeated SUNY Purchase 7-2 on Sunday afternoon.

Knox struck first with a run in the second after a leadoff double by Evan Laws. He came around to score on a passed ball.

Luke Mathieu beat out an infield single in the fourth to drive in Nick Stan and Troy Brandt came around to score on a throwing error on the same play. Andrew Garrett then singled to score Mathieu and Cole Shepherd to give Knox a 5-0 lead.

Nick Stan doubled home a pair of runs in the fifth inning to extend the Prairie Fire lead to 7-0.

Purchase was able to score a run in the sixth and another in the seventh, but didn't put much pressure on Knox otherwise.

Brandon Ward picked up the win on the mound with five scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out four. Caleb Hay and Saverio Scumaci teamed up to finish the game.

Laws, Stan, and Andrew Garrett each tallied two hits for the Prairie Fire. Laws tripled, while Stan and Jason Clark each added doubles. Stan and Garrett each drove in two.

"We played very well in all facets of the game today," said associate head coach James Clark. "We made a few errors, but immediately made adjustments and limited the damage. We came up with big hits in big spots as well."

Knox will play their final spring break game on March 20 as they face Williams.