DAVENPORT, Florida - The Prairie Fire baseball team defeated University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 5-4 on Wednesday morning.

Knox scored twice in the top of the first on RBI from Thomas Wilmot and Etienne Thomas.

The Prairie Fire plated two more on a two out, two-RBI single by Jason Clark in the second inning.

In the top of the third, Andrew Garrett tripled to bring across Thomas. Garrett was called out on a squeeze attempt as Aidan McMurtrie laid down a perfect bunt.

The Blugolds pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the sixth.

UW-Eau Claire hit a solo home-run in the bottom of the eighth to bring the game within a run.

Will Vines pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to earn the save.

Evan Laws and Tyler Kemp each tallied two hits for Knox.

Clark Heeren was great on the mound in the first start of the year, giving up no earned runs in 3.2 innings. Ben Frericks picked up the win with 1.2 innings and no earned runs. 

The Prairie Fire will return to action on March 22 as they begin conference play against Lawrence in Davenport, Florida.