SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (14-9, 4-0) are coming off one of the most dominate weekends in program history, sweeping the Bearcats in the opener series of Great Lakes Valley Conference play. Illinois Springfield will look to continue those winning way as they host Southern Indiana (9-12, 2-2) for another four-game GLVC series.

SCHEDULE UPDATE
Due to the rain littered forecast, the start of the series has been moved up to Friday afternoon with a start time of 3:00 pm at Lenz Field in Jacksonville. This will be followed by the normally schedule double-header on Saturday at 12/3 pm at the UIS Baseball Field.

SETTING THE SCENE
The Prairie Stars have won six of their last seven games and are coming off a four-game series in which they outscored McKendree University 52-18. This series begins a nine-game home stand for the Prairie Stars where they will face Quincy University on Tuesday in non-conference action before hosting Lewis the following weekend.

Southern Indiana began the year as the pre-season 14^th ranked team in the nation, but has since falling off with their 9-12 start. The Screaming Eagles are 5-4 in their last nine games and split with Bellarmine in their GLVC opening series.

OFFENSIVE MINDED
Through 23 games, the Prairie Stars are among the conferences' best offensive teams, ranking third in batting average (.325), first in runs (204), third in hits (265), second in extra-base hits (87), second in homeruns (31), and fourth in on-base percentage (.402).

A trio of Prairie Stars rank in the top-10 in a slew of offensive categories:

Myles Hann:

• 5^th in batting average (.417)
• 7^th in hits (35)
• 9^th in RBI (25)

Cole Taylor:

• 10^th in batting average (.398)
• 6^th in slugging percentage (.765)
• 1^st in runs (32)
• 1^st in hits (39)
• 8^th in RBI (27)
• T-4 in doubles (9)
• T-2 in triples (3)
• T-4 in homeruns (7)

Michael Rothmund:

• 3^rd in slugging percentage (.837)
• 10^th in runs (25)
• 1^st in RBI (36)
• 1^st in homeruns (13) – leads the nation in HR/game

ON THE HILL
Though the Prairie Stars put up historic numbers at the plate, we can't overlook what the pitching staff has done so far this season.

With a 4.35 ERA, the Prairie Stars rank third in the league and have combined for a league leading three shutouts. The staff as a whole has held opponents to a mere .269 batting average against, second best in the league.

Individually, Ethan Howard ranks second in ERA (2.43) while Brayden Jensen sits ninth (3.00). Adam Gregory is holding opponents to a .216 batting average against, fifth best in the league while Howard sits eighth at .228.

Gregory sits atop the league with two other pitchers with five wins. Chase Lowman, though he doesn't qualify for ERA consideration, has thrown eight innings across six appearances and given up just six hits and struck out seven.

AGAINST LIKE OPPONENTS
Illinois Springfield and Southern Indiana have played four like teams this season: Wayne State (Mich.), Quincy, UMSL, Oakland City.

The Prairie Stars are 4-0 against Oakland City, 2-1 against Wayne State, 1-1 against UMSL, and 0-1 against Quincy.

Southern Indiana is 0-1 against Wayne State, 2-1 against Quincy, 1-0 against UMSL, and 0-1 against Oakland City.

THE LAST TIME…
UIS is 2-17 all-time against Southern Indiana, beating the Screaming Eagles for the first time in program history last spring in Evansville, Indiana. UIS won 9-8 and 5-1 in a doubleheader to open the series.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN INDIANA
The Screaming Eagles are led by Nathan Kuester, who is hitting .325 with six doubles and two homeruns. Drake McNamara leads the club with four homeruns. Five players have at least ten RBI's on the season. Southern Indiana ranks 12^th in the league with a .259 team average and second in the league with a 4.02 ERA.