Box Score April 17, 2016 Final Stats
CHICAGO - What began as a pitcher's duel through six innings turned into an exciting, 6-5, come-from-behind win for the Flames on Sunday afternoon. It was the second straight victory for UIC (15-19, 7-4 HL) over Milwaukee (14-16, 6-4 HL) as they took the rubber match of the weekend series and moved into tie for second place in the Horizon League.
UIC starter Ian Lewandowski and Milwaukee pitcher Adam Reuss went pitch-for-pitch for six innings. Lewandowski carried a perfect game through 3.2 IP, retiring 11 straight and 12 of the first 13 batters faced. The Flames right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out six in 6.0 IP. Reuss retired seven in a row and did not allow a hit until the fifth before leaving in the eighth inning.
Milwaukee put up three runs on UIC reliever Trevor Lane (3 ER/3.0 IP) to take a 5-1 advantage after seven innings. In the eighth, Derrick Patrick started the UIC rally with a one-out single and advanced to second on a single by David Cronin. Milwaukee brought in pitcher Jake Tuttle to relieve Reuss and freshman Scott Ota greeted him with a walk to load the bases for Ricardo Ramirez. Ramirez collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly, scoring Patrick to cut the deficit to 5-2. With two out Conor Philbin walked to load the bases again with Brandon Gibis stepping to the plate. Gibis was hit by the first pitch seen which forced home Cronin. Alex Dee laced an infield single off the pitcher's leg scoring Ota from third base and the Flames trailed by just one run at 5-4. After another Milwaukee pitching change, Rob Calabrese looped a two-run single to right field scoring Philbin and Gibis to give UIC a 6-5 lead. UIC sent 10 men to the plate scoring five times in the inning, including four runs after there were two outs.
Trevor Lane returned to the mound for the final inning and closed the door on Milwaukee by getting Luke Meeter to line into a game-ending double play to earn his third victory of the year. The win was just the second comeback victory in the last at-bat for the Flames this season.
The Flames close out the homestand with a critical doubleheader against Valparaiso on Friday, April 22 beginning at 12:05 p.m. CST. UIC and Valparaiso are currently tied for second place in the Horizon League with identical 7-4 records.
