April 5, 2013
Final Stats 
VALPARAISO, Ind. - The UIC baseball team (14-13, 4-3) claimed victory in the series-opener against defending-league champion Valparaiso (10-18, 1-6) on Friday afternoon by a final score of 2-1 at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Crusaders actually out-hit the Flames, 9-6, but UIC forced Valpo to strand 11 base runners compared to the Flames' four. With the win, UIC is in sole possession of second place in the Horizon League behind Milwaukee (8-2). The Flames have now won seven of their last nine games.
"Today was a great team win," said head coach Mike Dee. "Our guys finally got back to the approach and attitude we had earlier in the season of playing with intensity while staying relaxed."
Senior Tim Suminski was credited with his first win of the season as he entered the game in the fourth frame and was effective over 4.1 innings. Freshman Jack Andersen picked up his first collegiate save, retiring all five batters he faced. Suminski scattered six hits and held Valpo scoreless during his time on the mound. Six different UIC batters recorded hits including Andres Ortegano, Tyler Detmer, Alex Grunenwald, Joe Betcher, Conor Philbin and John Coen.
The Flames knotted the score at 1-1 in the fourth with a lone run as Detmer tapped a single to right center to begin the frame. Grunenwald then drove him across the dish with a double to right field, his seventh two-bagger of the season.
After three scoreless innings, UIC posted the game-winning run in the eighth frame as Coen ignited the spurt with a single to left center. Jacob McNamara pushed him over to second on a sac bunt and then a groundout by Ryan Shober placed Coen on third. With two outs on the board, Ortegano took the first pitch he saw for an infield single, advancing Coen across home plate.
Saturday's contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT as senior Joey Begel will take the bump for UIC.
