April 12, 2011

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

CHICAGO - The UIC baseball team pushed across six runs in the second inning and those tallies held up as the Flames bested Northwestern at Les Miller Field on Tuesday evening, 6-3.

It was the bottom third of the UIC (14-15) lineup, three freshmen, that got things rolling Tuesday. Catcher Jacob McNamara laced a one-out triple to right field and right fielder Josh Nevers walked to set the table for John Coen. Coen hit a ball back to Northwestern (9-20) starter Jack Havey (1-5), but Havey's throw to second base to attempt to start a double play was errant and McNamara came in to score the first run of the game for the Flames. Then, Nevers and Coen executed a double steal and later, Nevers came in to score on a wild pitch with Coen moving up to third base. After Nick Addison was hit by a pitch, Matt Serna stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI single over the first baseman's head to extend the lead to 3-0.

Serna stole second base and Jon Ryan drew a walk to load the bases for designated hitter Alex De LaRosa, who delivered the knock-out blow in the form of a bases-clearing double to left center field off of Havey to give the home team a 6-0 advantage.

Following that inning, the Flames offense was virtually shut down by the Northwestern bullpen. Four relievers came in to throw five consecutive hitless innings until Andy Leonard beat the streak with a solid base hit to left field to lead off the home half of the eighth. During the hitless stretch only two UIC hitters reached base. Serna found himself on second base when Nick Linne dropped a fly ball in the fourth inning and Ryan Shober drew a two-out walk in the sixth.

The Wildcats added single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, but would draw no closer in the non-conference game.

Charlie Weinberg (4-3) started the contest for the Flames, who used five hurlers on the staff day. Weinberg went through the first two innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three of seven batters he faced. Matt Heaslip and Joey Begel each went two innings with Begel fanning three of the four men he faced in the sixth inning. Chris Hoffman and Eric Wyman teamed up to throw the final three innings. Wyman did not allow a run and earned his second save of the season; he also struck out two.

Tuesday's win marked the third straight win for UIC over their rivals from the Big Ten. The victory also snapped a three-game losing streak for the Flames.

UIC will return to the diamond on Friday evening when they host the Wright State Raiders in an important Horizon League series. Friday's contest is set for 6:05 p.m. with a doubleheader to follow on Saturday beginning at 12:05 p.m.