The University of Illinois at Springfield Prairie Stars won the first baseball game ever in their history as they rallied for five runs in the top of the 11th inning to spoil the home opener for the Alcorn State Braves 19-14 in Alcorn State, Ms.
This was UIS’s first ever season with a baseball team as Alcorn State was on the wrong side of history. They were the university’s first ever baseball opponents and also will go down as the first team that they ever defeated.
The Prairie Stars sent ten men to the plate in the top of the 11th inning to pull it out, getting run scoring singles from Andrew Holt and Reid Clary plus taking advantage of a wild pitch by losing pitcher
Chris Garza and an infield error.
The Braves, who could not hold a 12-9 lead in the ninth, gave up five runs behind a pinch hit two run single by Adam Unis and trailed 14—12 going into the home half. Eduardo Gonzalez led off the bottom with a double; Jann Butler tripled him in and later knotted it up on a Prairie Star error.
The Braves had the chance to win it in the bottom of the 10th with the bases loaded but pinch hitter Eduardo Salas struck out. After the UIS explosion in the top of the 11th the Braves were retired in order in the bottom of the 11th.
The Braves and Prairie Stars each had 10 hits but ASU could not take advantage of their hits nor the 12 base-on-balls or the eight stolen bases. ASU left 17 runners stranded.
The Prairie Stars also had 20 hits, nine base-on-balls and left 10 on base. But they took advantage of 6 Braves errors, which led to runs.
Nate Lyons recorded the first win in UIS history and the two teams will face off again Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 12 Noon at the Willie ‘Rat’ McGowan Stadium. ASU is 0-4 and UIS 1-0.
UIS—1—0—5—0—1—0—0—1—5—0—5---19-20-2
ASU-0—1—4—1—0—3—1—3—1—0—0---14-20-6
