BOX SCORE

WHITING, Ind. -- The top-seeded UIC baseball team (29-22-1) battled tooth and nail against No. 3 seed Milwaukee (38-19) on Friday evening in an elimination game at the 2015 Horizon League Tournament, however the Panthers plated two runs in the 12th inning and ultimately prevailed 5-4, ending the Flames' record-setting season.

In the top of the 12th inning, UWM's Mitch Gelfi reached base on a throwing error and then was moved over to second after Michael Porcaro was hit by a pitch. Eric Solberg advanced both runners one bag with a sac bunt and then a walk to Tell Taylor juiced the bases. Dalton Varsho sent across the first Panther run as he reached base on a fielder's choice bunt after a failed attempt at home plate. Milwaukee dialed up the same play and plated Porcaro off a sac bunt to go in front 5-3.

Alex Lee kept UIC's rally hopes alive with a leadoff double to right center in the bottom of the 12th frame. Lee was then moved over to third off a groundout from Conor Philbin. Rob Calabrese drove in Lee with a RBI-groundout to pull the Flames to within one, but a David Cronin strikeout ended UIC's comeback.

Tyler Detmer paced the Flames by hitting 3-for-4 and added his 15th double of the season, while Lee and Philbin collected two hits apiece.

Starter Ian Lewandowski lasted 6.1 frames, scattering 11 hits and giving up three earned runs. Jack Andersen (4-6) tossed the final 5.2 innings and was charged with the loss. Andersen allowed three hits and no earned runs and fanned five UWM batters.

The Flames struck first with a lone run in the second inning after Mickey McDonald scored off a wild pitch.

Milwaukee took a brief 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, but UIC countered with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Jeff Boehm singled up the middle to begin the stanza and McDonald reached base off an error. Lee pushed up both runners on a groundout and then Philbin ripped a two-RBI single up the middle to give UIC a 3-2 lead.

The Panthers finally tied the count at 3-3 in the seventh frame after Lewandowski issued a bases loaded walk.

UIC picked up its 11th Horizon League Regular Season title during the 2015 campaign and tied a program record for most conference wins with 22. Head coach Mike Dee earned his ninth Coach of the Year honor, while Boehm and Jake Dahlberg were selected as the Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.