The University of Illinois Springfield softball team had a strong finish to its 2021 season. It looks to continue that momentum into its new season in 2022, and return to being one of the top programs in the GLVC and Midwest region.
 
UIS started slow last year, but rebounded by winning 10 of its final 14 regular season games. That streak helped the Prairie Stars reach the GLVC Tournament, and finish the year with a 19-27 overall record and a 14-14 conference mark.
 
The Prairie Stars hope to get off to a quicker start this season, and that will start with their pitching staff. UIS does lose its wins leader, Addison Bryant, from 2021, but returns the rest of the staff, and adds a graduate transfer. The Prairie Stars believe with their young staff having another year of experience, along with being healthier, they can return to their 2019 form.
 
Leading the way for UIS is former all-conference pitcher Payton Long. Long was limited in her innings last season, but looks to get back to her 2019 numbers when she won 11 games and struck out 125 batters.
 
The other returning pitchers from last year are Kayana Diederich and Reagan Miles. That duo threw nearly 60 percent of the team's innings. Diederich led the team in shutouts and ERA, while Miles had five wins and two saves, and was second on the team in strikeouts per seven innings.
 
The newcomer on the pitching staff is Courtney Blackwell, who comes to UIS from Purdue Northwest. She won 31 games in four seasons there, and was a two-time honorable mention all-conference selection.
 
Offensively, UIS returns many of the key pieces of last year's lineup that ranked third in the GLVC with nearly five runs a game. The Prairie Stars will continue to have their speed which led them to rank fifth in the nation in stolen bases per game.
 
The team's biggest strength will be in the infield, led by all-region Danielle Dennis and all-conference Carly Chovanec. Dennis, who can play most positions but is primarily the second baseman, set the program's single-season record last season with a .411 batting average and a .643 slugging percentage. Chovanec, the team's shortstop, batted .347 with a .404 on-base percentage.
 
At the corners are Carolyn Franke and Ramsey Armstrong. Franke, the team's first baseman, was third on the team with 25 RBI last year. Armstrong moved into the starting lineup during the team's late-season run, and had 11 RBI in the final 14 games of the regular season.
 
Backing up in the middle of the infield is Zoie Bowman, who saw 14 starts in her true freshman season last year. Newcomer Ella Brinkley could see time at the hot corner, Emma Thomas is an option at first base, and Diederich is a utility player for the infield and outfield positions.
 
UIS also has returning experience behind the plate in Grace Harris, where she has been the primary starter at catcher for the last three years. Emma Garcia, Jacy Watts, and Emma Thomas will be the backups at the position.
 
The outfield will be the positions where UIS will need to fill the most holes. It has a lot of options though, led by returning starter Ashley Klinzing. Klinzing had a .391 on-base percentage, and was 21st in the nation in stolen bases.
 
Other returners in the outfield include Laney Gowin, Kelsie Burrows, and Jillian Mathis. All of those players started at least 14 games last year. Burrows and Mathis both hit over .300 in 2021, and Gowin is another Prairie Star that adds to the team's speed. Two freshmen, Addyson McClure and Taylor Zawacki, are also option in the outfield.
 
UIS starts the season with three tournaments, including the Springfield Invitational on March 5-7. Conference action starts after that, which will give UIS the chance to prove that its talented roster is ready to move back up to the top tier of the GLVC.