The Southwestern Illinois baseball Blue Storm opened the season with a bang by winning a pair of games against #13 ranked Jefferson College 2-1 and 3-2.

     In the opener, Shawn Spainhoward tossed a 3 hitter, striking out 5 and giving up one unearned run.   Trailing 1-0 in the 5th, shortstop David Miller's 2 out, 2 run double was all Spainhoward needed for the win. 

    In the nitecap, Austin Thater went 6 innings striking out 5 and giving up 2 earned runs for the win.  Joe Grzywacz picked up the save in the 7th. 

    Miller again provided the spark putting the Blue Storm on top with an RBI double in the 3rd.  The Storm went ahead 3-0 in the 5th on and RBI single by catcher Ian Sikes and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Kyle Stanton.

    Jefferson scored two in the 6th on a 2 out, 2 run double by CJ Rose but Thater struck out Preston Aldridge to preserve the lead.  In the 7th Grzywacz got the save by getting a ground out with the bases loaded and 2 out to give the Blue Storm the doubleheader sweep.