LIBERTY, Mo. – The William Jewell baseball team beat the No. 24 University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars 5-4 Friday afternoon. With the series opener victory, the Cardinals move to 8-6 on the season and 2-3 in the conference. Jewell's last win against a ranked opponent was also against the Prairie Stars, coming in the opening round of last year's GLVC Tournament when Illinois Springfield was No. 19.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Jewell struck first courtesy of Ben Click who blasted a three-run homer in the second inning to lead by three.
- The next inning with Dawson Tweet on second base, the Prairie Stars' centerfielder lost Will Brant's popup to the sun allowing Tweet to score. The following batter, Ben Click popped up to the centerfield which bounced his glove, scoring Brant and putting Jewell up 5-0.
- With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the fifth, after a Chandler Ashby strikeout, Jordan Phillips caught a fly-out in right and then fired the ball to Click at home who tagged the advancing runner from third for the inning-ending 9-3 double play.
- Prairie Stars plated four runs between the seventh and the eighth, but it was not enough as Jewell would win 5-4.
KEY STATS
- Click's second inning home run was his first on the year. Of the thirteen Cardinals to step up to the plate this season, the redshirt junior marks the eleventh to go yard.
- Ashby received the win after 6.1 IP, eight hits, three strikeouts, and a pair of walks to move to 2-2 on the year.
- Epp, Tweet, Brant, and Click all had two hits on the afternoon, with both of Tweet's being doubles.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will continue their series with the nationally ranked Prairie Stars Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.
