SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Lewis University baseball team played Illinois-Springfield on Saturday (March 8) and both teams split their doubleheader. The Prairie Stars won the first game 4-3, and the Flyers won their first conference contest of the season with an 8-6 victory.

GAME 1: Illinois-Springfield 4, Lewis 3

TEAM RECORDS
Illinois-Springfield 7-5, 2-0 GLVC | Lewis 5-5, 0-2 GLVC

SUMMARY
Lewis jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opening inning after Cain Headrick (Custer Park, Ill./Providence Catholic) ripped an RBI double to left, scoring George Bilecki (Chicago, Ill./Marist) from third. 
 
The Flyers doubled their lead in the third frame after Bilecki hit a triple down the right field line. The next batter, Lewis made it 2-0 as Bilecki scored on a wild pitch. 
 
UIS got one run back in the bottom of the fourth after hitting a solo shot to right making it 2-1 in favor of Lewis.
 
Lewis regained that run back in the top of the sixth after Cole Nelson (St. Charles, Ill/Lenoir Rhyne) reached on an error on the third baseman, scoring Jackson Hunley (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie). 
 
The Prairie Stars tied the contest at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh after hitting a two-run shot over the right field fence.  UIS rallied and walked off in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single.
 
Luke Carlson (Granville, Ill./Putnam County) (0-1) recorded a no-decision on the mound after going five innings, allowing two hits, giving up one run, issuing one walk and striking out six.
 
GAME 2: Lewis 8, Illinois-Springfield 6


TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 6-5, 1-2 GLVC | Illinois-Springfield 7-6, 2-1 GLVC

SUMMARY
Nelson started the scoring for the contest in the third inning with a solo shot to left, giving Lewis a 1-0 lead.  Jason Krol (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence) doubled the Flyers lead to 2-0 after hitting an RBI double to center, scoring Bilecki. 
 
Hunley added another run in the fourth after hitting a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Krol, giving Lewis a 3-0 advantage. Lewis was not finished scoring after adding on a pair of more runs in the fifth, making it 5-0 for the Flyers. 
 
Krol reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Chris McDevitt (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) to make it 4-0. Headrick singled home Mikey Kocen (Beach Park, Ill./UNC-Pembroke) for a 5-0 lead.
 
UIS got one run back in the fifth inning making it 5-1 in favor of the Flyers. Lewis added three important insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, extending their lead to 8-1. 
 
Tyler Phommachanhom (Plainfield, Ill/Parkland CC) doubled to left field scoring John Henry Russell (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South). McDevitt added another run in the frame after doubling home Phommachanhom making it 7-1.
 
Headrick hit a solo shot to right, giving the Flyers an 8-1 lead.  The Prairie Stars did not go away quietly as UIS mounted a comeback and scored five times in the seventh but Carter Endisch (Pewaukee, Wis.) was able to come in and close the door and record the save.
 
UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action and conclude its four-game series against Illinois-Springfield Sunday, March 9 starting at noon CT.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
Be sure to join us Wednesday, March 26 as we induct our newest members of the Athletics Hall of Fame at the Flyer Red Dinner at Bolingbrook Golf Club starting at 6 p.m. CT. Purchase tickets at https://lewisflyers.com/2025FlyerRedDinner

FLYERS ANNUAL FUND
Support the Flyers by making a gift to the Flyers Athletics Fund at https://lewisflyers.com/202425AnnualFund