Feb. 18, 2006

Box Score

Mesa, Ariz. - Behind six strong innings from senior pitcher Ryan Martin and an offense that lashed out a season-high 15 hits, the UIC baseball team picked up its second straight victory with a 14-1 triumph over Air Force on Saturday afternoon at HoHoKam Park, spring training home of the Chicago Cubs.

Martin earned the victory as he scattered four hits and allowed just one run in his 2006 debut.

The Flames (2-1) offense took care of the rest as every player in the starting lineup tallied a hit with the group combining for seven extra-base hits.

Senior Bart Babineaux led the way for UIC, continuing his hot start to the season by going 3-for-4 with his first home run and four RBI. Babineaux now has a team-best seven RBI through the first three games.

Lead-off hitter Larry Gempp Jr. went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and three runs scored.

The Flames got to Air Force (5-3) starter Mitch Brown early. Already up 1-0 after one inning, UIC plated three more in the second on a two-run double by Nick Rainwater and a sacrifice fly by Gempp.

The Flames would go on to add a single tally in the third and two more in the fourth, eventually ending Brown's day as he suffered his first loss to move to 2-1 on the year.

UIC scratched the scoreboard for two more in the seventh and then Babineaux's first home run highlighted a five-run eighth for the Flames.

UIC will conclude its four-game trip to Arizona tomorrow afternoon when the Flames take on Creighton at HoHoKam Park.