As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the program's Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one player, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.

The 2022 UIS baseball team delivered the most historic and accomplished season in UIS history, combining championship success, national recognition, and multiple program firsts. The Prairie Stars finished the year with a 48-11 overall record, capturing both the GLVC regular-season and tournament championships before advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championship for the first time ever. The season marked a turning point for UIS baseball and established a new standard of excellence at the Division II level.

UIS was dominant throughout the regular season, winning the GLVC Blue Division by four games and establishing itself as one of the nation's top teams. The Prairie Stars excelled offensively and on the mound, ranking among the national leaders in scoring while posting the best earned run average in the conference. That balance carried into postseason play, where UIS consistently rose to the moment against top competition.

The Prairie Stars authored a dominant run through the GLVC Tournament, going 4-0 and outscoring opponents by a 47-11 margin. UIS defeated Quincy 16-3  in the championship game to claim its first GLVC Tournament title. The victory was especially significant, as it marked the first conference championship in UIS baseball history and the first-ever GLVC title won by the university in any sport since joining the league.

UIS carried its momentum into the NCAA Midwest Regional, where the Prairie Stars went 3-0 to claim the regional championship. The postseason run continued at the NCAA Super Regional, where UIS rebounded from an opening loss to defeat Quincy twice in one day and punch its ticket to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship in Cary, North Carolina. The national tournament appearance capped a breakthrough season and represented the culmination of steady growth under head coach Ryan Copeland.

Individually, the 2022 season featured one of the most decorated collections of Prairie Stars in program history. Zion Pettigrew led the way, becoming the first back-to-back GLVC Player of the Year in conference history while also leading NCAA Division II in RBI. Pettigrew and several teammates earned regional and national honors, reflecting the depth and impact of the roster throughout the season.

All-GLVC

• First Team: Zion Pettigrew (GLVC Player of the Year), Austin Alderman, Brandon Bannon, Asher Bradd, Colton Hale, Kal Youngquist, Cameron Zunkel
• Second Team: Seth Masters, Quinn Gudaitis, Brant Vanaman

All-Region Selections

• D2CCA, NCBWA, and ABCA First Team: Zion Pettigrew (D2CCA Player of the Year) 
• D2CCA and NCBWA First Team; ABCA Second Team: Brandon Bannon, Colton Hale
• D2CCA and ABCA Second Team; NCBWA Honorable Mention: Austin Alderman
• NCBWA Second Team: Asher Bradd
• ABCA Second Team: Brant Vanaman
• D2CCA and ABCA Second Team; NCBWA Honorable Mention: Kal Youngquist

All-America & National Awards

• First Team All-American (D2CCA, NCBWA, ABCA): Zion Pettigrew
• Third Team All-American (NCBWA); D2CCA Honorable Mention: Colton Hale
• D2CCA and NCBWA Honorable Mention: Brandon Bannon
   

The 2022 Prairie Stars were one of the most dominant teams in UIS history, setting program records for hits (684), runs (591), RBIs (538), total bases (1,189), doubles (137), home runs (110), and walks (319), while ranking second all-time in batting average, on-base percentage (.443), and slugging (.586). On the mound, UIS recorded a program-best 579 strikeouts, second-best strikeouts per nine innings (10.8), and limited opponents to a .243 batting average. Defensively, the team posted the third-best fielding percentage (.970) and ranked among the top five all-time in total chances, putouts, assists, double plays, and fewest errors, combining to make 2022 a season of all-around excellence.

The 2022 season represented the high point of a seven-year rise for UIS baseball, as the Prairie Stars advanced to the national stage and firmly established themselves among the elite programs in NCAA Division II. A season defined by championships, postseason breakthroughs, and historic firsts, the 2022 UIS baseball team left a lasting legacy and reshaped the future of Prairie Stars Athletics.

Explore the growing list of NCAA Division II 15 Years Anniversary honorees celebrating the legacy of Prairie Stars Athletics.