April 10, 2007
Milwaukee, Wis.- The UIC baseball team feasted on UW-Milwaukee pitching on Tuesday, scoring a combined 20 runs in two games to sweep a Horizon League doubleheader over the Panthers at a frigid Henry Aaron Field on Tuesday.
The Flames improved to 14-12 overall and 6-2 in league play, while the Panthers fell to 6-19 and 5-5 in league action.
UIC has now won eight games in a row, including five straight conference contests.
Micky Pingree led the UIC offensive onslaught with a 5-for-9 day at the dish and five RBI.
Nick Rainwater celebrated his 22nd birthday in style with a 5-for-10 afternoon, driving in three runs and scoring three of his own. Chad Schroeder also went 5-for-10 at the plate.
Game 1: UIC 8, UW-Milwaukee 4 Box Score
UIC led by as many as seven runs and held on for an 8-4 victory over UW-Milwaukee in Tuesday's twinbill opener.
Zach Peterson was sharp in six innings of work, allowing a mere run, for his first win of the year.
Schroeder and Pingree each went 3-for-5 during the game.
The Flames scored at least one run between the second and fifth innings, highlighted by a three-run fourth, to go up 7-0.
The two teams exchanged runs in the bottom of the sixth and the top of the seventh to keep UIC's advantage at seven before the Panthers mounted a threat in the bottom of the ninth that trimmed the lead to four.
But closer David Cales turned away the Milwaukee comeback attempt when he was summoned with one out and the bases loaded, retiring the game's final two hitters to earn his sixth save of the season.
Game 2: UIC 12, UW-Milwaukee 1 Box Score
A second straight scoring outburst and solid pitching proved to be an overwhelming combination as UIC easily won the nightcap over UW-Milwaukee by a final of 12-1.
Pingree drove in four more runs, while Rainwater went 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
UIC broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with four runs and blew the game open in the seventh with six more.
Joe Skinner was credited with the win after 3.2 innings of solid relief, allowing just one hit during that span.
Skinner quelled a Panther threat in the bottom of the fifth in relief of starter Steve Crnkovich, who fanned three in 4.1 innings to fall just short of his second collegiate victory.
UIC hosts Wright State in a three-game series at Les Miller Field beginning on Friday at 6:05 p.m.
