The University of Illinois Springfield softball team returns home this week for the first time since March 20. The Prairie Stars have GLVC doubleheaders against Truman State and William Jewell.
 
The Prairie Stars enter this weekend with a 9-21 overall record, and a 4-10 conference mark. UIS is 13^th in the GLVC standings. The Prairie Stars will be looking to extend their winning ways at home, where they have won three out of the last four contests.
 
UIS is one of the top offensive teams in the GLVC this season. The Prairie Stars are batting .301, and they are scoring 4.6 runs a game. On the mound, UIS has a 5.93 ERA. In its most recent outing, it gave up just six runs in two games against Quincy.
 
Danielle Dennis has been hot at the plate lately. She is six-for-nine in her last three games with three runs, five RBI, two doubles, and two home runs. Dennis leads the team this season with nine doubles, five homers, 24 RBI, .375 batting average, .675 slugging percentage, and .457 on-base percentage.
 
Kayana Diederich was the top pitcher against Quincy. She threw 6 1/3 innings and allowed just one run and five hits.
 
Each individual GLVC school will determine their own attendance policy for softball. Please check the policies of the home teams if interested in attending a contest. (UIS)
 
UIS vs. Truman State
Date/Time/Location: Saturday, April 17, 12:00 p.m. – Springfield, Ill.
Streaming: https://glvcsn.com/uis
Live Stats: http://www.uisprairiestars.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary   
All-Time Series (Since 2011): Truman State leads 11-4 (Series tied 4-4 in Springfield, Ill.)

Truman State heads east on Saturday with a 9-19 overall record and a 6-12 conference mark. The Bulldogs are just ahead of UIS in the standings in 12^th-place. They are 2-8 over their last five GLVC doubleheaders.
 
Truman enters play this week with a .264 batting average on the season, and it is averaging 3.6 runs a game. On the mound, the Bulldogs have a 5.78 ERA, and opponents are batting .312 off of them.
 
Emma Walbert is among GLVC leaders this year with a .451 batting average and .506 on-base percentage. Annabel Zimmer is the team leader with five wins on the mound, and Rachael Kernich has a team-best 4.43 ERA and .262 opponent batting average.
 
In 2019, Truman State swept a doubleheader against UIS in Kirksville, Mo. The scores were 12-1 and 8-0.
 
UIS vs. William Jewell
Date/Time/Location: Sunday, April 18, 12:00 p.m. – Springfield, Ill.
Streaming: https://glvcsn.com/uis
Live Stats: http://www.uisprairiestars.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary  
All-Time Series (Since 2011): William Jewell leads 11-9 (William Jewell leads 6-4 in Springfield, Ill.)

William Jewell is currently 8-22 on the season, and 7-11 in GLVC play. The Cardinals are tied for ninth in the conference standing.
 
On the mound, William Jewell has a 4.75 ERA this season. Offensively, the team is batting .223 and is scoring 2.3 runs a game.
 
Allison Rawls is the top offensive threat. She has a .345 batting average and .450 on-base percentage, and she has 15 runs and 13 RBI. Aly Manhart is the top pitcher with a 4.28 ERA and a .283 opponent batting average.
 
Over the last three seasons, UIS has won five out of six games against the Cardinals. Last season, the Prairie Stars edged out two victories in Liberty, Mo. by scores of 2-1 and 4-3.
 
Up Next
UIS returns to the road on April 24-25 with series at Rockhurst and Southwest Baptist.