RENSSELAER, IN --- The Prairie Stars (28-21, 15-13) advanced to the GLVC conference tournament for the second time in the past three seasons despite being swept on the final day of the regular season by Saint Joseph's (26-24, 14-14). UIS split with the Puma's, meaning they needed Bellarmine to take at least one of two games from Lewis on the final day, which they took care of in the first game of the double header. UIS last made the tournament in 2014.

GAME ONE: SAINT JOSEPH'S 6, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 2
The Puma's jumped on top of the Prairie Stars by scoring three in the bottom of the first and added a single run in both the second and third innings. Down 5-0, UIS scored twice in the fifth to cut into the deficit. Adam Warda drove in John Sechen for the first run with an RBI fielders' choice before Kyle Hunsinger scored when Warda stole second and capitalized on a Puma throwing error.

UIS gave one back in the bottom half though where the score reached 6-2, where it would become final.

Max Biedrzycki (4-3) took the loss on the mound, throwing just one inning and allowing four runs on six hits. Matt Farrington, Payton Ruso, and Dan Pacha combined to finish out the game, with Farrington throwing 4.2 innings.

Sechen was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with one of the two runs for the Prairie Stars.

GAME TWO: SAINT JOSEPH'S 4, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3
In what turned out to be a meaningless game in the standings, UIS jumped out early by scoring a run in the first. Gabriel Acevedo scored Austin Muench on a groundout to second to give UIS a 1-0 lead.

The lead was safe until the bottom of the fifth when the Puma's finally got to starter Adam Gregory. In 4.2 innings of work, Gregory gave up just one earned run on two hits and struck out five. Gavin Collins took the tough loss for the Prairie Stars, coming in relief and giving up three runs (one earned) in just one-third of an inning. Kyle Strepek threw the final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Down 4-1, UIS rallied in the eighth for two runs as Muench scored Aaron Kuper with a single to right before the Prairie Stars capitalized on another Puma error.

Down a run in their final at-bat, UIS put runners on first and second with two-outs but were unable to tie the game, leaving the tying run on second.

THINGS TO NOTE: Despite getting swept, UIS made the conference tournament by owning the tie-breaker over Lewis University. Because UIS split with Bellarmine and Lewis lost 3-of-4, UIS advances to the conference tournament. The tournament will be held at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana from May 12-15. The Prairie Stars will open up the tournament against the top-seed from the western division on Thursday at 3 pm.