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UIS Baseball Falls 17-12 to Drury
Despite two home runs from Kaden Griffitts and 12 total walks, the Prairie Stars could not overcome the Drury Panthers in the extra inning game.
Mar. 21, 2026 at 7:24am
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Illinois-Springfield baseball (15-7, 4-1) fell to Drury (13-9, 4-1) in a high-scoring affair on Friday, 17-12. Drury set the tone early, building a 4-0 lead in the first. UIS answered with an unearned run, then Kaden Griffitts launched a grand slam in the second to give the Prairie Stars a 5-4 lead. The game went back-and-forth, with Drury surging ahead 10-6 in the fourth before UIS tied it at 10-10 in the sixth on another Griffitts home run. The teams traded runs late, forcing extra innings, where Drury broke it open with a six-run tenth inning to secure the win.
Why it matters
This high-scoring affair between two GLVC conference rivals highlights the offensive firepower of both teams as they battle for position in the conference standings. The Prairie Stars' comeback efforts also demonstrate their resilience, though they ultimately fell short against the Panthers.
The details
Drury set the tone early, using a double and a home run to build a 4-0 lead in the first. UIS answered with an unearned run in the bottom half to make it 4-1. UIS flipped the game in the second inning when Kaden Griffitts launched a grand slam, giving the Prairie Stars their first lead at 5-4. Drury responded in the third with an RBI single to even the score at 5-5. The Panthers surged back ahead in the fourth, scoring five runs behind a double from Logan Reidelberger and a home run by Connor Bain to go up 10-6. UIS got one back in the bottom of the inning, then chipped away again in the fifth as Drew Ezard scored on an error, cutting the deficit to 10-7. Griffitts delivered again in the sixth, blasting a three-run homer to tie the game at 10-10. Drury regained a narrow edge in the seventh, taking an 11-10 lead, and held that advantage through a scoreless eighth. In the ninth, Jesse Contreras came through with an RBI single to tie the game and force extra innings. Drury broke it open in the tenth, scoring six runs-including a three-run homer-to secure the series-opening win.
- The game was played on Friday, March 20, 2026.
The players
Kaden Griffitts
A player for the UIS baseball team who hit two home runs in the game.
Logan Reidelberger
A player for the Drury Panthers who hit a double in the fourth inning.
Connor Bain
A player for the Drury Panthers who hit a home run in the fourth inning.
Drew Ezard
A player for the UIS baseball team who scored a run in the fifth inning.
Jesse Contreras
A player for the UIS baseball team who hit an RBI single in the ninth inning to tie the game.
What’s next
UIS and Drury continue the series Saturday with a noon doubleheader.
The takeaway
This high-scoring affair between the UIS Prairie Stars and Drury Panthers showcased the offensive firepower of both teams as they battle for position in the GLVC conference standings. Despite the Prairie Stars' comeback efforts, the Panthers ultimately prevailed in extra innings to secure the series-opening win.
