Feb. 15, 2013
Final Stats 
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - In front of a crowd of more than 6,000 spectators, the UIC baseball team (1-0) kicked off its 2013 season with an upset win at No. 24 Texas A&M on Friday night by a final score 2-0 at Blue Bell Park. The win is the Flames' first victory over a nationally-ranked since March 7, 2010 when UIC defeated No. 23 Western Kentucky and UIC's first season-opening triumph since 2002. Sophomore pitcher Tomas Michelson picked up the win by lasting 7.2 innings, allowing a mere four hits and fanning five Aggie batters.
"I couldn't be any more proud of our guys," said head coach Mike Dee. "It was a hard fought game and the players were relaxed and remained confident. Our pitching was absolutely outstanding. We told all three guys to go out there and just be themselves and that's exactly what they did."
The Flames posted their two runs in the top of the third inning as senior Joe Betcher began the frame with a single to right field. Junior Alex Jurich bumped Betcher over to second base with a sacrifice bunt on the next at-bat. After Betcher advanced to third on a passed ball, junior John Coen joined him on base on a hit-by-pitch. Redshirt senior Alex De LaRosa recorded the first RBI with a single to left center, while sending Coen to second. The next batter, Ryan Shober, reached base off an error by the Aggie third baseman, which sent Coen across home plate for the second and final run of the evening.
Texas A&M gave UIC a scare in the eighth inning as A&M's Jonathan Moroney started the frame with a double down the right field line. After Michelson struck out the Aggie pinch hitter, freshman Ian Lewandowski was brought in for relief. In his collegiate debut, Lewandowski retired the next two batters in the eighth and the first two batters in the ninth.
Sophomore Alex Posey was called in for the final out of the game as he made A&M's Troy Stein pop out to center field. Tonight was Posey's UIC debut as he transferred from Rend Lake Community College after competing one season for the warriors.
De LaRosa paced UIC at the plate, going 2-for-4 and notching the team's lone RBI. Other Flames' batters to record a hit was Betcher, Jurich, sophomore Tyler Detmer and redshirt senior Harry Kammholz.
Game 2 of the three-game stint is set for Saturday at 2:05 p.m. CT.
