UIS Fall Report: Leave No Doubt

A shifting of the guard has arrived in Springfield, but the expectation of excellence remains the same. Following a successful 2025 campaign that saw the Prairie Stars post a 36-16 record (23-8 in GLVC play) and finish as the GLVC Tournament Runner-Up, Chris Rodriguez takes the reins as head coach for his first full season. Rodriguez, who served as an assistant last season, inherits a program with a clear mandate: return to the World Series. Despite losing significant production—only 32.5% of the offense and 52% of the pitching returns—Rodriguez is confident in the "fire and hunger" of this group. The transition this fall has been about establishing a culture of hard work among a roster that Rodriguez describes as "driven" to prove they belong among the nation's elite and leave no doubt that they are deserving of a regional bid.

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The Offense

With the departure of heavy hitters like Ivan Dahlberg and Mark Kattula, the Prairie Stars are retooling an offense that looks to blend returning stability with explosive transfer talent. Leading the returning core is junior Johnny Wendling, who will anchor the hot corner and provide consistent production. In 136 at-bats last season, Wendling hit .316 with eight doubles, five home runs, and 35 RBI, posting an OPS of .977. He is joined by senior outfielder Kody Morton, a converted infielder who proved dangerous at the plate. Morton hit .344 in 125 at-bats, tallying nine doubles, eight homers, and 31 RBI while maintaining a 1.042 OPS. Another versatile weapon returning is Noah Caceres, who offers flexibility across the infield and behind the plate. Caceres displayed significant power potential, launching 11 home runs and driving in 36 runs while hitting .285 in 123 at-bats.

To offset the loss of nearly 70% of last year's offensive production, the staff tapped into the junior college ranks for immediate impact. Senior outfielder Corey Boyette transfers from Division I Lipscomb but made his name at Heartland CC, where he was a part of their 2023 National Championship team. Boyette brings a menacing track record, having slashed .406/.508/.685 with 20 home runs and 148 RBI in his junior college career. Joining him is fellow Heartland product Kaden Griffitts, a junior outfielder who crushed 16 home runs with a 1.095 OPS last season. The lineup also adds Division I transfer Tyler Thompson (Lindenwood), a utility man who demonstrated exceptional plate discipline with 30 walks against just 21 strikeouts while hitting .295.

The Pitching Staff

The mound features more continuity than the lineup, with over half of the innings returning, headlined by the staff ace Mark Decicco. The senior right-hander was dominant in 2025, earning First Team All-GLVC and Second Team All-Midwest Region honors. Decicco posted a 7-4 record with a stellar 3.45 ERA across 62.2 innings, striking out 77 batters and holding opponents to a conference-best ERA. He is complemented by senior righty Ben Benoit, an experienced starter who logged 55.2 innings with a 4-6 record and 48 strikeouts. The bullpen will lean on graduate student Adam Wibbenmeyer, a big arm trusted in high-leverage spots, who struck out 8 batters in just 9.2 innings of work last season.

New arrivals on the mound provide crucial depth and varying looks. Senior lefty Zane Danielson, a 6-foot-7 transfer from Purdue Fort Wayne, offers an imposing presence after striking out batters across 55.2 innings last season. From the junior college ranks, the Stars added Isaac Graf from Black Hawk College, who was electric out of the pen with a 4-0 record, five saves, and a 2.12 ERA in 34 innings. Another key addition is redshirt junior lefty Graham Kasey, a transfer from Eastern Illinois who racked up 137 strikeouts over two seasons at Kankakee CC, known for his ability to pound the strike zone.

Key Departures

The roster turnover is highlighted by the exit of several decorated veterans. The offense loses shortstop Ethan Bowers, a First Team All-GLVC selection who provided stability up the middle. The power department takes a hit with the loss of first baseman Mark Kattula, a First Team All-GLVC and Second Team All-Midwest Region honoree who hit .387 with 50 RBI and was incredibly difficult to strike out. Also departing is catcher Ivan Dahlberg, a First Team All-Region selection who led the team with 16 home runs and transferred to Division I Northern Illinois. On the mound, the team must replace closer Seth Masters, a First Team All-Midwest Region arm who recorded 11 saves, third all-time in program history, and has since returned to the program as an assistant coach.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 slate presents an ambitious path for Coach Rodriguez’s squad, featuring early road tests and marquee conference matchups. The season opens on February 6 with a trip to Savannah, Georgia, to face Savannah State, where Rodriguez will face off against his former high school coach, Florentino Burgos. A major early-season barometer awaits the following weekend when the Stars travel to Lakeland, Florida, for a four-game set against perennial Division II powerhouse Florida Southern from February 13-15. The non-conference schedule also includes a late-February neutral-site swing in West Virginia against Lake Erie, Walsh, and Salem.

In GLVC play, UIS will host key series at the UIS Baseball Field, including matchups against Regional Host Davenport (March 6-8) and regional rivals Drury (March 20-22) and Quincy (March 27-29). The road to the postseason will be forged away from home in April, highlighted by a critical series against Indianapolis (April 24-26) that could carry significant weight in the conference standings. The regular season concludes at home against McKendree (April 30-May 2) before the GLVC Tournament begins on May 6. Navigating this gauntlet will be essential for a team focused on returning to the national stage.

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