March 14, 2000

Box Score

Cincinnati, Ohio - UIC starter Brad Mears earned his first win of the year this afternoon against Xavier as he tossed nine complete innings and gave up just three hits and one unearned run. The Flames improve to 3-11 with the victory while Xavier drops to 3-12.

Mears, who struck out four batters on the afternoon, pitched efficiently for UIC and twice worked out of a bases loaded jam, including as late as the seventh inning when he fanned first baseman Mark Andres for the third out of the inning. Mears left a total of 10 Muskateers stranded.

After playing scoreless through the first three innings, UIC got on the board first as it took advantage of a pair of errors by Xavier second baseman Eric Greenwell. Sean McNichols reached on an error by Greenwell, stole second and advanced to third on another miscue by Greenwell. Bob Rosinski's ground out to second base was good enough to bring McNichols in for the game's first run.

The Muskateers quickly tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom half of the fourth as a miscue at shortstop gave Xavier the extra out they needed to put one run across the plate.

Two innings later, UIC reclaimed the lead and held on down the stretch for its third win of the year. McNichols once again reached home for the Flames as he hustled out a bunt single to third base, advanced to second on a failed pickoff play and moved over to third on a wild pitch. Eric Duke provided the game-winning sacrifice fly as he flew out to left field, enabling McNichols to score.

The two teams will meet again Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. before the Flames head to Nashville on Thursday to meet up with Austin Peay.