Box Score April 26, 2016 Final Stats
DeKalb, Ill. - The two teams combined for 17 runs and 27 hits, unfortunately UIC was on the short end, losing 11-6 to Northern Illinois in a non-conference contest at Ralph McKinzie Field on Tuesday afternoon. With the win the Huskies swept the home and home series.
For the second time in as many meetings Northern Illinois jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. UIC responded with four runs in the top of the second inning, the big blow a bases-clearing triple by Rob Calabrese, to tie the game at 4-4. In the bottom half of the inning NIU sent eight men to the plate, scoring three more runs to take a 7-4 lead. The Flames surrendered eight runs through three innings as starter Reid Birlingmair (1-3) lasted just 1.1 innings.
Reliever Austin Smith entered the game in the second inning and silenced NIU for 5.2 innings, striking out a career-high nine batters. The Flames closed the deficit to 8-6 in the fifth inning when Scott Ota and David Cronin scored on a two-base error off the bat of Ricardo Ramirez. With the bases loaded and none out in the sixth inning, UIC had an opportunity to tie or take the lead but Josh Gere lined into a double play and the next batter, Brandon Gibis popped out to the catcher. The Flames lined into four double plays on the afternoon each time ending a scoring threat. Northern Illinois put the game out of reach with three runs in the eighth to secure the win.
Cody Bohanek (2-4), Alex Dee (2-4) and Rob Calabrese (2-4, three RBI) combined to hit 6-12 (.500) with three RBI and three runs scored for the Flames in the sixth, seventh and eighth spots in the lineup. The Flames had five players collect two hits in the contest.
UIC returns to Horizon League play with a three-game weekend series at second-place Valparaiso beginning on Friday at 3:00 p.m. CST.
