UIS Athletics heads into another busy week of competition with several spring teams on the road and tennis at home. Here's a look at what's ahead for the Prairie Stars from April 20–26.
Men's Golf – Travels to Peru, Ind., to compete at the GLVC Championship starting on Wednesday.
Track & Field – Travels to Allendale, Mich., to compete at the GVSU Extra Weekend Meetup.
The Illinois Springfield softball team faced No. 19 McKendree at Bearcat Field on Sunday, suffering two losses with final scores of 4-0 and 7-0.
In the first game, UIS managed just two hits. Rebecca Neupauer reached base on an error in the first inning and stole second, but UIS wasn't able to capitalize on the runner in scoring position.
The Illinois Springfield baseball team was defeated 9-3 by Maryville on Sunday in Springfield. Maryville took the series finale, though UIS had already clinched the series on Saturday afternoon.
Starter Graham Kasey set the tone, holding Maryville scoreless through the first four innings. The Prairie Stars got on the board in the fourth inning when Johnny Wendling doubled and advanced to third on a groundout, and Dillon Huber brought him home with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.
The UIS men's team was represented at Indiana State's Gibson Invitational by a pair of freshmen in the 1500 meters on Saturday.
Chase Cooley led the duo with a time of 4:08.16, while River Derby followed at 4:19.29 as both underclassmen gained valuable experience.
The UIS women's track and field team competed Friday and Saturday at Indiana State's Gibson Invitational, highlighted by a strong showing in Friday night's 5000 meters.
Josslyn Gaona led the Prairie Stars in the event, finishing 21st overall with a time of 18:56.10. Lauren McBride (20:01.77), Allison Thompson (20:09.21), and Olivia Thomsen (20:19.20) followed in a pack, while Ava Allison rounded out the group (22:56.78).
UIS split its Saturday doubleheader at Maryville, falling 3-0 in the opener before bouncing back with a 4-1 win in game two.
In the first game, the Prairie Stars (27-14, 11-8 GLVC) were limited to just two hits in a seven-inning shutout. Maryville struck early, scoring in the first inning on an RBI single, then added another run in the second on a double. The Saints extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth, and UIS was unable to respond offensively.
The UIS men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision at UIndy on Saturday afternoon, with its lone point coming at No. 1 singles.
In doubles play, UIndy secured the point despite a win by the Prairie Stars at No. 3. Lukas Pieringer and Antonio Ayerbe Streubel earned a 6-3 victory, while Pablo Herrera and Lin En Tan fell 6-3 at No. 1 and the No. 2 duo of Miran Todorovic and Kai Van-Roon dropped a 6-2 decision.
The Illinois Springfield baseball team kept its series momentum rolling on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Maryville with a pair of tight wins—one in extras and another behind a complete game effort from Mark DeCicco.
The UIS women's golf team placed sixth at the GLVC Championship, completing three rounds of stroke play Friday and Saturday with a total score of 956 (314-322-320). The Prairie Stars finished 14 strokes behind fifth-place McKendree.
Elaine Grant led UIS with a tie for seventh, carding rounds of 78, 79, and a final-round 72 to highlight a strong Saturday comeback. Ira Joshi also turned in a solid performance, shooting 77, 80, and 79 to finish tied for 17th with a 236 total.
The UIS women's tennis team dropped a GLVC road match 7-0 at UIndy on Saturday afternoon.
UIndy secured the early advantage by sweeping all three doubles matches. At No. 1, Niamh Grogan and Ema Norma Bordean were edged 7-5, while the No. 2 duo of Maria Garcia Gama and Alisha Deogaonkar fell 6-4. Jane Carter and Cristina Mendoza Romero rounded out doubles play with a 6-2 loss at No. 3.