Prairie Stars Overcome Early Deficit for 19-10 Win

No. 10 Illinois Springfield baseball team secures decisive victory over Missouri-St. Louis

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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No. 10 Illinois Springfield baseball team (7-3) secured a decisive 19-10 victory over Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday in its home opener and the third game of the series against the Tritons. The Prairie Stars were powered by an offense that collected 13 hits, including two home runs.

Why it matters

This win helps the Prairie Stars maintain their strong start to the season and builds momentum heading into their upcoming Atlantic Region Crossover tournament against Lake Erie, Walsh, and Salem.

The details

The Tritons struck first in the opening inning, taking a 3-0 lead. The Prairie Stars answered in the second inning with a four-run rally, taking a 4-3 lead. UIS then capitalized on UMSL miscues in the third inning, extending their lead to 10-4. The UIS offense erupted again in the eighth inning, scoring 6 runs to make it 19-10. Kyle Tyler closed out the victory in the ninth inning.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • Game four of the series was postponed.

The players

Drew Ezard

A Prairie Stars player who tripled to spark a four-run rally in the second inning, hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning, and totaled three hits with two RBIs.

Chris Suchoski

A Prairie Stars player who drove in a run on a fielder's choice and later added another RBI.

Tommy Atkinson

A Prairie Stars player who went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple, driving in five runs and scoring three times.

Johnny Wendling

A Prairie Stars player who hit a two-RBI single in the second inning, hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and finished 2-for-4 with a home run and a team-high six RBIs.

Jaden Mathon

A Prairie Stars relief pitcher who worked the next three innings, striking out five and allowing three hits and one earned run to earn the win and improve to 1-0.

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What’s next

The Prairie Stars are headed to West Virginia next week for the Atlantic Region Crossover where they will face Lake Erie, Walsh, and Salem.

The takeaway

The Prairie Stars' decisive 19-10 victory over Missouri-St. Louis showcases their offensive firepower and resilience, as they overcame an early deficit to secure the win and maintain their strong start to the season.