March 30, 2011
Box Score
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CHICAGO - Ryan Shober, Alex De LaRosa and Andy Leonard each collected three hits on Wednesday afternoon as the UIC baseball team knocked off the Chicago State Cougars at Les Miller Field, 4-1.
Shober and De LaRosa each scored twice, while Leonard extended his hitting streak to a current-team-best five games in the win for the Flames (11-10).
The game was scoreless entering the bottom of the third inning when it was UIC that struck first on a brisk Chicago afternoon. Shober singled with one away in the inning and stole second base, his team-high fifth theft of the season. Shober moved to third on De LaRosa's base hit to left field and scored one batter later on Jason Ganek's infield single. De LaRosa scored the inning's second one when Chicago State (4-12) catcher Jack Bobillo made an errant throw to third base on a stolen base attempt.
The Flames added another run in the bottom of the fifth and once again it was Shober and De LaRosa who made it happen. Shober led off the frame with a sharp single up the middle and he would come all the way around to score from first base when De LaRosa uncorked the game's only extra-base hit, a double to left center field.
The Cougars got on the board in the top of the sixth off UIC reliever Tim Suminski. Michael Carpen singled to center field to lead off the inning and the next batter walked. Jonathan Carpen sacrificed the runners up 90 feet and the next batter, Miguel Camacho, grounded out to Leonard at shortstop to drive in Chicago State's only run of the afternoon.
De LaRosa scored a final insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when he touched home following Joe Betcher's sacrifice fly to right field.
Wednesday's game marked the fourth straight game, and eighth time overall this season, in which the Flames were not charged with an error in the field. UIC is 6-2 this season when not committing a fielding miscue.
Perhaps the defensive highlight of the season to date came in the top of the seventh inning when Chicago State's William Hill appeared to have knocked a base hit to right field. UIC right fielder Nick Addison had another idea. The redshirt sophomore corralled the ball on one hop and fired it in to Ganek at first base just ahead of Hill to record the final out of the inning after reliever Chris Hoffman had fanned the first two.
Collin Weyer (1-0) made his first career start for the Flames and earned his first collegiate victory in the process. The right-hander worked 3.0 scoreless IP, while striking out a pair and walking none.
Fellow newcomer Jon Ryan worked two scoreless innings to notch his first career save for UIC. Ryan also struck out two batters, including Bobillo to end the game. The versatile freshman played the first seven innings of the contest in left field on Wednesday.
Prior to the game, UIC head coach Mike Dee was honored in a brief ceremony. The bench boss was given a commemorative plaque denoting his 400th career win which came on March 25 in a 13-1 victory over Cleveland State.
The Flames will step back in to Horizon League play on Friday afternoon when they head to Valparaiso for a three-game set against the Crusaders. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. with a doubleheader to follow on Saturday, beginning at noon.
