SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (21-21, 7-11) will look to gain some ground in the Great Lakes Valley Conference race as they hit the road for the second straight week to take on Saint Joseph's and the University of Indianapolis. UIS enters the weekend having dropped four of their last five conference games but most recently beating Lewis University 13-3.

SETTING THE SCENE
Currently in 11^th place, the Prairie Stars are three games out of the final playoff spot with 12 games remaining in the regular season. UIS will continue a near month long road trip, playing their next eight games on the road before ending the regular season at home with William Jewell and Rockhurst.

Saint Joseph's (13-24, 6-12) is currently 15^th in the league and are coming into the game having lost two non-conference games to Grand Valley State. Prior to that, the Puma's split with both Bellarmine and Southern Indiana the weekend prior.

(RV) UIndy (29-13, 10-8) enters the weekend in sixth place and have lost their last five games in conference play. The five-game slide is tied for the second longest losing streak in the league to date. The Greyhounds are currently in the middle of a 14-game home stand.

THE LAST TIME…
UIS is 5-3 all-time against Saint Joseph's, winning the last three match-ups between the two teams and five of the last six. The last time UIS traveled to Rensselaer, Indiana, the Prairie Stars split, falling 5-4 before coming away with a 2-1 victory.

The Prairie Stars hold an all-time record of 4-10 against the Greyhounds, falling in both ends of their doubleheader last year. Prior to that, UIS had won two straight, including a 3-0 victory in the GLVC tournament in 2015.

GLVC RANKINGS
UIS has raised their team average to .267, now ranking 13^th in the league. The Prairie Stars have collected 58 doubles this season, ranking fifth in the league while their eight triples rank third and 19 home runs sixth.

In the circle, the Prairie Stars team ERA sites at 3.09, ranking eight in the league.

Lakyn Wagoner continues to sit atop the ranking with six triples, two ahead of the next best player in the league. BriAnna Edgar has reached base ten times this season via hit-by-pitch, the third most in the league.

Ali Haesele has held opponents to a .235 batting average against, the sixth best mark in the GLVC while striking out 104 batters, one of six pitchers to reach that mark.

Team Average:

• Saint Joseph's -- .281 (7^th)
• UIndy -- .277 (9^th)
• Illinois Springfield -- .267 (13^th)

Team ERA:

• UIndy – 1.91 (2^nd)
• Illinois Springfield – 3.09 (8^th)
• Saint Joseph's – 3.64 (10^th)

OH MY GOS-BETH
Over the last 11 games, Amanda Gosbeth has been one of the best hitters in the entire GLVC. During this two-week span, the senior catcher has hit to the tune of .464 (13-for-28) with six doubles, three home runs, and eight RBI. Those numbers add up to 28 total bases in 28 at-bats, good for a 1.000 slugging percentage.

Gosbeth has also walked three times, putting her on-base percentage at .516 while only striking out three times. Along with the offensive production, the senior has taken over duties behind the plate and tallied eight assists to go along with a perfect fielding percentage over that time.  

ROAD TRAVELERS
The Prairie Stars are in the middle of a 12-game road trip that will take them the majority of April to complete. UIS is 3-6 in true road games this season with a 2-6 mark in conference games on the road. In those nine games, Gosbeth, Allison Rose, and Bree Derhake all hold a batting average over .400 while three others are hitting over .300.

On the road this season, Gosbeth has ten hits which include four doubles and three home runs.

GLVC OUTLOOK
With 12 games remaining in the regular season, UIS still has eight games left with teams above them in the standings and four games with teams below them. The Prairie Stars will conclude the regular season with games against Rockhurst and William Jewell who currently rank first and fifth in the league, respectively.

SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S
Saint Joseph's has a team average of .281, which is seventh best in the league. The Puma's are led by Amanda Melzoni with a .359 average which includes five doubles, three triples, and seven home runs. Five Puma's hold over a .300 average and as a team have connected for 21 home runs.

Melzoni is also their number one arm, holding a 3.48 ERA and 6-11 record in the circle. However, Melzoni has only struck out 31 batters in 120.2 innings.

SCOUTING UINDY
The Greyhounds are defined by their pitching staff, one that holds a 1.91 ERA, second best in the league. Lauren Honkomp is the owner of a 20-5 record and 1.47 ERA. In 181 innings, Honkomp has allowed just 171 hits and struck out 136 batters.

In the batter's box, Natalie Lalich heads the offense with a .376 average, collecting six doubles and ten home runs. Dani Turner is right behind Lalich with a .364 average and has seven doubles, two triples, and ten home runs.

COMING UP NEXT
UIS will continue the final stretch of the season with a road trip to Drury and Missouri S&T next weekend on Saturday April 22^nd and Sunday April 23^rd.