July 15, 2015 The 2015-16 academic year begins in 40 days and UICFlames.com counts down the Top 25 Flames over the summer months (June 8-July 31). Each sport will be featured over eight weeks as we preview the upcoming year in UIC Athletics. In this installment of 'Top 25 Flames for 2015-16', we will feature baseball's junior third baseman Mickey McDonald. After hitting at a .305 clip last season, McDonald earned All-Horizon League First Team honors.
McDonald capped the 2014 campaign with 57 hits, four doubles and UIC's third-best RBI total of 37. McDonald advanced his production in almost every offensive category from his freshman season, most markedly his on-base percentage which improved from .335 to .400.
McDonald led the Flames and ranked fourth in the Horizon League with 14 stolen bases. He recorded 18 multi-hit contests and 10 multi-RBI games.
McDonald was hitting .529 after the first series of the season at Mississippi Valley State (Feb. 13-14). He had his best game of the season at Oakland (May 8), when he tabbed four hits and four RBI.
For the upcoming 2016 season, McDonald and the Flames look to build off their 2015 Regular Season Championship. UIC earned the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament following a program-record tying 22 victories.
As a freshman, McDonald was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team and the All-Horizon League Freshman Team. He hit .297 in his first collegiate season, including six doubles and two home runs.
McDonald owns 100 hits, 61 RBIs, 56 runs scored and 17 stolen bases over two years at UIC. The versatile ball player has spent time at second, shortstop and third base during his Flames' career.
TOP 25 FLAMES
June 8 - Jake Dahlberg
June 10 - Stephenee Yancy
June 12 - Thomas Villamil
June 15 - Elaine Heflin
June 17 - Tai Odiase
June 19 - Ruvanna Campbell
June 22 - Michael Crepeau
June 24 - Brianna Hines
June 26 - Kei Ishimaru
June 29 - Kelly Fritz July 1 - Mitch Granger
July 3 - Jackie Altansarnai
July 6 - Trent Jarrett
July 8 - Kelsey Jensen July 10 - Kyle Hauser July 13 - Nicole Szabo
