SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A pair of early two-run home runs and an 11-run second inning powered No. 25 Illinois Springfield to a 23-1 victory over Drury baseball Sunday afternoon, handing the Prairie Stars their third-straight win over the Panthers to close out the two clubs' Great Lakes Valley Conference series at UIS Baseball Field.
Parker Heistand turned in a 5-for-5 day at the plate with four runs scored and four RBIs lo lead the Stars, while Noah Caceras homered twice and drove in five runs for the home club, which posted the top single-game run total by a Drury foe since March 2022.
Drury (13-12, 4-4 GLVC) seized a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on doubles by Jackson Crider and Connor Bain to take the early lead.
But two-run homers by Corey Boyette and Caceres against Drury starting pitcher Trayce Mercer (0-1) in the home half of the inning sparked a UIS offense that went on to tally 23 unanswered runs on 23 hits in the seven-inning victory.
Heistand's leadoff single to open the second ignited the game's key rally, as UIS converted nine hits and a Drury defensive miscue into a big inning. Boyette brought in the first two runs of the inning with his single to right, and Caceres belted a three-run shot for his second home run of the day and a 9-1 UIS lead.
The Stars (18-7, 7-1 GLVC) kept the pressure on the Panthers' pitching staff, as back-to-back-to-back RBI-singles by Heistand, Brian Daker and Tommy Atkinson extended the margin to 11 runs. Kaden Griffitts added a two-run double, before Kody Morton's RBI-single capped the rally.
UIS added five more runs in the fourth, with two-run doubles from Johnny Wendling and Heistand highlighting the inning. Heistand delivered his fifth hit of the game with another run-scoring single as part of the Prairie Stars' three-run sixth.
On the mound, UIS starter Mark DeCicco (3-1) limited the Panthers to four hits and one run while striking out six batters to earn the victory.
LOOKING AHEAD
Drury will open a four-game GLVC series against Lincoln on Friday (March 27). First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. from Vivion Field in Jefferson City, Mo.
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