UIS baseball opens NCAA Tournament play Thursday as the Prairie Stars host Midwest Regional action for the first time since 2023, taking on familiar GLVC foe UIndy Greyhounds baseball in game one of the regional at 11:00 a.m.

The tournament at UIS is one of two four-team regional sites in the Midwest this weekend, with eight teams battling for two spots in next week's super regional round. Hosted at the UIS Baseball Field, the double-elimination tournament will feature two games per day Thursday through Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with a seventh game Sunday if necessary.

Tournament updates, schedules and links will be available on the tournament landing page.

UIS enters the postseason at 34-18 overall and earned the No. 2 seed after navigating one of the region's toughest schedules. The Prairie Stars opened the year with road trips to face Savannah State and Florida Southern before grinding through a deep GLVC schedule. Last week, UIS went 1-1 in the conference tournament, highlighted by a dominant 20-1 opening win over Rockhurst Hawks baseball behind a strong start from Second Team All-GLVC pitcher Graham Kasey.

The Prairie Stars offense has been powered by a trio of All-GLVC newcomers in outfielders Corey Boyette and Tommy Atkinson alongside designated hitter Kaden Griffitts. Boyette and Atkinson are each batting .385 with double-digit home runs, while Griffitts has driven in 71 runs with a .376 average and 15 homers. UIS has also received key production throughout the lineup, including timely performances from Jese Contreras and Johnny Wendling during the GLVC Tournament.

On the mound, Kasey has been a key piece of a rotation that also includes Ben Benoit, Zane Danielson and Honorable Mention All-GLVC selection Mark DeCicco.

UIndy enters the regional as the No. 7 seed with a 33-21 overall record after advancing to Friday at the GLVC Tournament. The Greyhounds went 22-10 in conference play and took three of four games from UIS earlier this season in Indianapolis, with each contest closely contested.

The Greyhounds are headlined by GLVC Player of the Year Austin Bode, who is batting .401 with 18 home runs and a 1.344 OPS. Chase Mason, Gavin Duran and Bret Perry provide additional depth to one of the region's strongest offensive lineups.

UIS and UIndy also met in the 2023 Midwest Regional, when the Greyhounds escaped with an 11-10 extra-innings victory on a play at the plate. The all-time series between the two programs is led by UIS, 25-22.

This week, No. 2 UIS hosts No. 3 Wayne State (Mich.), GLVC champion No. 6 UMSL, and No. 7 UIndy. The other Midwest Regional site, hosted by GLIAC champion No. 1 Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich., features No. 4 Missouri S&T, No. 5 Davenport, and GMAC champion No. 8 Kentucky Wesleyan.

Stay tuned for tournament updates on uisprairiestars.com and @UISAthletics on social media.