The Illinois Springfield softball team stayed hot at the GLVC Championship Tournament on Friday, winning two elimination games to advance to its first title game in over a decade. The Prairie Stars shut out Missouri S&T 2-0 in the morning with Taylor Zawacki in the circle, then upset No. 1 seed Drury 4-1 behind stellar pitching from Rosie Bartletti. UIS is now 33-19 on the season and will face sixth-seeded Indianapolis on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in the championship round.
GAME ONE | #5 UIS 2, #7 Missouri S&T 0
- Taylor Zawacki tossed a complete-game shutout to keep UIS alive in the tournament, striking out seven and allowing just four hits. The Miners threatened early, putting two runners on in the first inning, but UIS escaped on a fielder's choice. After that, Zawacki settled in, striking out the side in the second and controlling the game from the circle.
- Offensively, UIS got its first hit in the third inning when Isabella Wilson singled and advanced on a groundout, but she was stranded. Zawacki doubled in the fourth but was thrown out on a double play.
- The breakthrough came in the sixth: Ella Brinkley singled and advanced to second on an errant throw. Rosie Bartletti laid down a bunt single, and a throwing error allowed Brinkley to score. Malia Bender followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Bartletti, making it 2-0.
- Zawacki closed it out with a dominant seventh inning, striking out all three batters. She improved to 4-6 on the season and was one of five Prairie Stars with a hit. Hers was the only extra-base hit in the game.
- Facing the tournament's top seed for the second time this week, UIS flipped the script thanks to First Team All-GLVC pitcher Rosie Bartletti. Bartletti retired the first six batters she faced and allowed just one baserunner in the first three innings.
- UIS struck early as Ella Brinkley walked, stole second, and scored on a groundout by Zawacki. The game developed into a pitcher's duel between Bartletti and Drury's Jordyn Foley, with little offense through five innings.
- In the sixth, Brinkley reached on an error and stole third, scoring again on a Zawacki single. UIS turned a double play in the bottom half to keep Drury off the board. The Prairie Stars added insurance in the seventh: Nyla Cooper singled, and pinch runner Sophie Rivera was erased on a fielder's choice. Bailey Masching scored on an RBI double by Isabella Wilson, who then came home on a double by Olivia DeLuca.
- Drury made a push in its final chance, scoring once on a walk and two singles, but UIS sealed the win with a fielder's choice. Bartletti threw another complete game, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four. She improved to 21-9.
- Wilson went 2-for-3 at the plate, with Zawacki, DeLuca, and Cooper also contributing hits.
Up Next
Championship Game | Saturday, 10:00 AM | Field 1 at EastSide Centre
UIS will face sixth-seeded Indianapolis in its first GLVC Tournament final since 2012—also against the Greyhounds. This week, UIS had its first tournament win since 2019 and head coach Shannon Guthrie will make her first trip to the final in her 11 seasons at the helm.
UIS in the Tournament
- Olivia DeLuca is batting .385 in the tournament with five hits—three for extra bases—and a 3-for-3 performance in the opener vs. McKendree.
- Taylor Zawacki is hitting .333 with five hits and delivered a standout performance in the circle against Missouri S&T.
- Ella Brinkley has recorded hits in four of five tournament games.
- Rosie Bartletti holds a 3-1 record in the tournament, including three complete games and 21 strikeouts across 25.1 innings. Her only loss came Thursday against top-seeded Drury.
Indianapolis (37-20)
The Greyhounds, undefeated in the double elimination tournament so far, have defeated No. 3 seed Maryville, No. 7 seed Missouri S&T, and No. 1 seed Drury to reach the final. GLVC Freshman of the Year Cheyanne Eads has pitched every inning for Indianapolis in the tournament, posting a 1.33 ERA and allowing just 12 hits across three complete game wins.
Offensively, Brooklyn Willis and Cara Cooper have led the charge, each going 5-for-9 in the tournament. Cooper, who hit her 20th and 21st doubles of the season during the run, continues to be a key offensive weapon.
In the regular season, UIS and UIndy split a doubleheader. The Greyhounds won the first game 1-0 by way of an unearend run in a head to head battle between Eads and Bartletti. UIS won the second game 6-4 with strong offensive performances from Brinkley and Bender. Rosie Bartletti was the winning pitcher and Taylor Zawacki earned a save in the game.
Follow Along
Watch the game live on the GLVC Sports Network or follow along with live statistics.