SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (22-24, 12-14) have successfully erased a 12-game GLVC losing streak in the middle of the season and put themselves in a position to make the conference tournament for the third consecutive year. UIS has won six straight games and 12 of their last 14 to put themselves in the eighth and final playoff spot.
SETTING THE SCENE
With four games remaining in the regular season, UIS will travel to Rockhurst and William Jewell to close out regular season play. UIS has tied their longest winning streak of the year at six, and holds their own destiny to make the conference tournament.
Rockhurst (18-26, 11-15) is one game behind UIS for the final playoff spot and comes into the series having split their last eight games. They dropped a game to both Lewis and Wisconsin – Parkside and have swept only two GLVC series this entire season.
The weekend will conclude with a series with William Jewell (22-24, 12-14), who UIS just took over the final playoff spot from. The Cardinals also split with both Lewis and Wisconsin – Parkside, setting up the win or go home final weekend. William Jewell is 3-5 in their last eight games and has an identical record as UIS in both conference and non-conference play.
CURRENT STREAK
Over the span of their last 14 games, UIS has exemplified outstanding pitching and defense to go along with clutch hitting. Taking out the two losses to then #1 UIndy, UIS is hitting .312 as a team, outscoring their opponents 61-14 over the span. Within that, the pitching staff has held opponents to a mere .180 batting average, while the defense has made just six errors in the 12 games.
To dig deeper into the success, freshman pitcher
Jaycee Craver --- who was named GLVC Pitcher of the Week --- is 7-1 in her last eight appearances, throwing six complete games and four shutouts.
GAME TWO DOMINATION
In the back end of double headers, UIS has dominated their opponents this season. Their Prairie Stars have outscored their opponents 84-51 in game two of double headers and that number moves to an astonishing 35-5 in their last seven game two's.
UIS has posted a shut out in the second game in their last three series as well as five times in their past six, with the only exception being a 2-0 (9 inn.) loss to #1 UIndy.
WHAT'S TO FOLLOW
As stated, if the Prairie Stars win all four games, they will automatically qualify for the conference tournament, as they will hold onto the eighth seed and possibly move up to the seventh spot, depending on what McKendree does against the same opponents.
The conference tournament is scheduled for April 29-May 1 in East Peoria, Illinois at the Eastside Centre.
