SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (20-18, 6-8) begin nearly a month long road trip as they continue GLVC play at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (11-19, 6-6) and Lewis University (20-15, 8-6). Illinois Springfield is coming off a 3-3 span with Bellarmine, #10 Southern Indiana, and McKendree.

SETTING THE SCENE
UIS enters the weekend in 11^th place in the GLVC, having split their last six games. The Prairie Stars are 20-18 overall and 6-8 in the league, having played a mix of teams on the top and bottom of the conference.

Wisconsin-Parkside enters the weekend in 10^th place with a record of 11-19 and 6-6 in the league. The Rangers have won four of their last five games, splitting with Lewis and UIndy while sweeping St. Joseph's.

Lewis sits in sixth place in the GLVC with an overall record of 20-15 and league record of 8-6. The Flyers are 2-6 in their last eight games, having split with UW-Parkside and St. Joseph's while dropping both games to both Grand Valley State and UIndy.

THE LAST TIME…
UIS is 9-1 all-time against the Rangers, winning the first seven games before falling for the first time in 2015. Last year, UIS swept the Rangers in Springfield by scores of 3-2 and 7-0. The lone loss for UIS came in Kenosha.

UIS is 8-6 against the Flyers, sweeping them last season by scores of 4-1 and 13-3. UIS is 4-0 all-time against Lewis in Springfield but just 2-4 in Romeoville while going 2-2 at neutral sites.

HOW THE STARS STACK UP
The Prairie Stars currently hold a .265 average, which ranks 15^th in the league but their .266 average in GLVC games only, ranks 9^th in the league. That number rises to a .336 on-base percentage in conference play, which ranks 10^th in the league.

In the circle, UIS holds a 3.01 ERA, ranking sixth in the GLVC. Their .272 batting average against ranks seventh.

Team Average:

• Lewis -- .318 (3^rd)
• UW-Parkside -- .266 (14^th)
• Illinois Springfield -- .267 (15^th)

Team ERA:

• Illinois Springfield – 3.01 (6^th)
• Lewis – 3.39 (9^th)
• UW-Parkside – 4.68 (15^th)

FRESHMAN TRIO
The trio of Lakyn Wagoner, Erin Stroup, and Allison Rose currently hold the top-three averages for the Prairie Stars, all hitting at .300 or better. Wagoner is ninth in the league in doubles (11), and first in triples (6). Stroup however, is the only player on the entire roster to appear and start in all 38 games. Rose is 7-for-20 in her last seven games since getting back into the starting lineup at Lindenwood.

ON THE ROAD
As stated earlier, UIS will hit the road for nearly the next month, playing their next 12 games away from home. After visiting Parkside and Lewis, the Prairie Stars will travel to St. Joseph's and #14 UIndy. UIS will close out the road trip at Drury and Missouri S&T before ending the regular season at home against William Jewell and Rockhurst.

GLVC OUTLOOK
As the halfway point of the conference season will pass by this weekend, the Prairie Stars currently sit in 11^th place. The top-eight teams advance to the conference tournament. UIS will play two teams this weekend which they can catch and pass with sweeps.

SCOUTING WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE
Parkside holds a .266 team average led by Jessica Shields at .365. The Rangers have three players with a .300 average or better but those are the only three players who are above .280.

Carly Dundee is both their best pitcher and one of their best hitters, pitching to a 3.11 ERA as well as hitting at a .351 clip. Dundee is 7-10 in the circle, throwing 108 innings over 20 appearances.

SCOUTING LEWIS
Kaylee Prieto leads the Flyers with a .417 average, ranking fourth in the league, tallying 13 doubles, three triples, and one home run, crossing the plate 33 times. All these rank in the top-five in the GLVC, except for the home runs.

Dara Sangers owns the circle for the Flyers, with a 13-4 record and 1.47 ERA. Sanders has 116 strikeouts in 114 innings against just 26 walks.

COMING UP NEXT
The Prairie Stars will take on St. Joseph's and #14 UIndy the following weekend. As of right now, UIndy is the last ranked opponent UIS will face in the regular season.