The Illinois Springfield baseball team started its postseason with authority on Wednesday, defeating seventh-seeded Missouri S&T 10-3 in the opening round of the 2025 GLVC Championship Tournament. Fueled by Esteban Hernandez's strong start on the mound and two home runs from Ivan Dahlberg, the Prairie Stars moved on in the winner's bracket.

Game Recap

• Esteban Hernandez, a Second Team All-GLVC selection, started on the mound and retired six of the first seven batters he faced. He went six innings, striking out seven and allowing just one run to improve to 6-0 on the year.
• UIS got on the board in the third inning, starting with a solo home run from Ty Hollandsworth. Later in the frame, Ivan Dahlberg launched a two-run homer after base hits from Jackson Blemler and Mark Kattula, giving UIS a 4-0 lead.
• Mack Clark added a solo shot in the fourth, and Dahlberg struck again in the sixth with his second home run of the game, a two-run blast. Clark followed with an RBI single, pushing the Prairie Stars ahead 8-1.
• Missouri S&T cut into the lead with two runs in the seventh, but UIS answered right back, capitalizing on a dropped fly ball to score two more.
• Dahlberg finished 3-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, and a walk. Clark went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Despite the park's deep dimensions, UIS slugged four home runs in a dominant offensive outing.
• Kannon Walker tossed the final three innings for his first save of the season, striking out two while allowing two runs on five hits.

Up Next
UIS will face six seed Quincy at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday in the winner's bracket. The Hawks advanced with a 7-3 upset win over three seed Maryville, thanks to a strong start from Kobe Essien and a save by Tom Conzemius. Quincy had four players notch two hits in the game, and Matt Mateo added a double and two RBIs.

Quincy is led at the plate by Ben Dahlof, who's batting .388 with 66 hits, while Mateo sits at .354 with a team-leading 14 home runs and 67 total hits. Potential starting pitchers for Quincy who haven't yet appeared in the tournament include Kade Ruffner, Roman Harrison, and Kyle Manship, along with a two others with spot starts this season. In relief, Quincy could turn to bullpen options such as Ben Draeger or Leyton Parmer.

Though UIS and Quincy did not meet during the 2025 regular season, the two programs are well-acquainted rivals. Quincy holds a 31-13 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last five matchups, including a sweep at home in 2024. The teams split the 2023 regular season series, but UIS took two of three at the 2022 NCAA Super Regional to advance to the national championship. The Prairie Stars and Hawks have met nearly every season since 2011, with only 2014 and the shortened 2020 season as exceptions.