April 7, 2012
Final Stats 
CHICAGO - The UIC baseball team snapped its five-game losing streak with a 3-2 series finale win over Valparaiso on Saturday afternoon at Les Miller Field. Junior UIC pitcher Mike Schoolcraft picked up his first win of the year, throwing 3.1 innings and allowing just two hits and zero runs. He came in for starter Tim Tarter who gave a solid effort, scattering four hits and two runs over 3. 1 frames. Senior Matt Heaslip pitched the final two innings for his first save on the season.
With the loss, UIC improves to 12-17 overall and 6-6 in the Horizon League, while Valpo falls to 10-19 and 6-6.
"After a tough week, it was nice to get this one," said head coach Mike Dee. "We've played a lot of innings this past week and for our guys to hang in there and grind it out really impressed me. Our defensive has performed well all year and I think our pitching has come around, so we just need to stick to plan on offensive."
Four UIC batters posted two hits a piece including Ryan Boss, Alex Jurich, Alex Gruenenwald and Joe Betcher. A roar from the Flames' dugout in the third inning was caused by shortstop Ryan Shober who ended nearly a month hitting drought with a double to left center.
After three scoreless innings, Valpo struck first in the third frame on a two-run homer by Elliot Martin, his first of the season. The Flames took one of those runs back in the bottom half of the fourth as Jon Ryan began with a double to left field line and advanced to third on a groundout. Ryan was plated on an Alex Grunenwald single up the middle.
UIC captured the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as Ryan Boss kicked off the surge with an infield single to third base. He was then pushed to second on a single up the middle by Alex Jurich and Grunenwald moved them both over one base on a single to third base. Joe Betcher drove in the first run with a poke up the middle, keeping the bases juiced. Addison recorded the second RBI with a fielder's choice that sent Jurich home, giving the Flames a 3-2 edge.
UIC returns to the field on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. CT as the Flames host Bradley for a non-conference matchup.
