The Illinois Springfield baseball team begins its 2026 campaign this weekend with a three-game series at Savannah State. The Prairie Stars will open the season Friday with a doubleheader, followed by a single game on Saturday, all taking place at the Tigers' home field in Savannah, Georgia.

Illinois Springfield
UIS enters the season picked second in the GLVC Preseason Poll and returns a strong core of pitching talent, led by All-GLVC selection Mark DeCicco. The staff also includes experienced arms Ben Benoit, Brayden Mayer, and Adam Wibbenmeyer, who was an All-GLVC performer in 2024 after missing much of 2025, as well as a deep bullpen that figures to be a key strength. Additions like Isaac Graf and Zane Danielson give the Prairie Stars further depth.

The UIS offense returns several proven contributors from 2025, including Johnny Wendling (.316, 34 runs, 35 RBI), Noah Caceres (.285, 11 doubles, 11 RBI), Chris Suchoski (.425 average), Kody Morton (.344, 43 hits, 31 RBI), and Dillon Smail (.333, 18 hits, six doubles). Drew Ezard, who missed most of last season, also returns to bolster the lineup.

Savannah State (1-2)
SSU is a first-time opponent for UIS and a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), opened its season 1-2, allowing 32 runs while scoring 10 in a weekend series against Fort Lauderdale. The Tigers bring experience, having reached the SIAC championship game the past three seasons, though falling short each time. Last year, Savannah State finished 32-14 overall and 24-9 in conference play, marking the fourth consecutive season with at least 30 wins.

Key returners for Savannah State include pitchers Brayden Thomas, Adonis Perez, Austin McCormack, and Gregorio Gonzalez, all of whom combined for a strong 2025 campaign. Thomas, the SIAC Starting Pitcher of the Year, logged 90 innings with 76 strikeouts and four complete games. Offensively, the Tigers return Johan Sandoval, Tyler Tucker, and Julian Grier, all contributors who helped Savannah State rank among the SIAC's top teams.

Follow Along
Savannah State will provide live stats and streaming through the SIAC Network, allowing fans to follow every pitch of UIS' season-opening series.