The UIS softball team will host William Jewell for a doubleheader on Friday, starting at noon. The games will serve as Senior Day, where the program will honor its eight seniors in a special post-game recognition ceremony.

Illinois Springfield (25-16, 13-9 GLVC)
The Prairie Stars are in the hunt for a spot in the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament, as they were one of 10 teams from the region listed in the NCAA's initial 2025 regional rankings. While the rankings are alphabetical for the first release, UIS is looking to stay competitive and secure a favorable position as the season progresses.

Last weekend, the Prairie Stars split their series with GLVC rival Indianapolis. In game one, UIS suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat, despite a stellar performance from Rosie Bartletti, who struck out 16 batters. The lone run of the game was unearned, and both teams managed only six hits. In game two, UIS built a 5-0 lead before UIndy rallied with a four-run sixth inning. The Prairie Stars held on, with Taylor Zawacki recording the final 1.2 innings to earn her second save of the season. The 6-4 victory allowed Bartletti to improve to 15-7 on the year.

Ella Brinkley continues to lead the offense with a .415 batting average, 44 hits, and 21 RBI. Zawacki follows closely with a .365 average, 42 hits, and 17 RBI. The team's lineup remains well-balanced, with five players tallying 10 or more extra-base hits this season.

Bartletti is the ace of the pitching staff with a 2.55 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 131.2 innings pitched. Addyson McClure and Taylor Zawacki been key contributors in the circle.

Brinkley is ranked No. 3 in the conference in slugging percentage (.670) and No. 5 in batting average (.415). Additionally, Malia Bender leads the conference with five triples, while Bartletti ranks second in stolen bases with 25.

William Jewell (22-22, 9-13 GLVC)
The Cardinals come into Friday's doubleheader on a four-game losing streak after suffering losses to Missouri S&T and Drury last weekend. Despite a mix of splits and losses in GLVC play, William Jewell has secured wins over Quincy and Southwest Baptist.

Offensively, the Cardinals have been led by Amanda Chung and Mikayla Chairez, both of whom have been on a hot streak in April. Chung, batting .398, has racked up 53 hits and 26 RBI so far this spring. Chairez follows closely with 50 hits and a .329 average. Tori Woodard, hitting .333 overall and .370 in GLVC play, adds another potent bat to the lineup. Emma Jane Ogle, who leads the team with 11 home runs and 25 walks, has a .275 average and a .409 on-base percentage.

In the circle, Sydney Parra has shouldered much of the workload, recording 60.2 innings pitched with a 5-3 record and a 4.75 ERA. Olivia Wood holds the team's best ERA at 4.44, while Avrey Reynolds has pitched 53.1 innings with a 5.57 ERA.

UIS leads William Jewell 16-12 all-time.

Follow Along
Both games of Friday's doubleheader, as well as the Senior Day ceremony, will be streamed live on the GLVC Sports Network. Live statistics will also be available online for fans to follow.

Promotions
Senior Day: The Prairie Stars will honor their eight seniors for their dedication and significant contributions to the program. This recognition ceremony, which will take place after the games, celebrates their hard work and leadership both on and off the field.

Scheels Day: UIS will also celebrate its partnership with Scheels, a proud sponsor of the athletics program. Scheels has been a key supporter of UIS Athletics in 2024-25.