COLUMBIA, Mo. – UIC fell behind after an inning, but the Flames grinded their way through the middle of the game and eventually tied the game with three runs in the sixth inning. Missouri was able to push across single tallies in the seventh and eighth innings, however, as the Tigers collected their second win in as many days with a 6-4 victory at Taylor Stadium.
 
UIC's Scott Ota drove in three runs Saturday, including two on the game-tying single with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth off MU's T.J Sikkema. Teammate David Cronin picked up three hits and scored a season-high two runs for the Flames.
 
How It Happened
Missouri struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Tigers used two doubles and a double steal that helped to grab a 3-0 lead against UIC and starting pitcher Jack Andersen.
 
The Flames quickly got a run back against Missouri starting pitcher Michael Plassmeyer in the top of the second. UIC's David Cronin led off the frame with a single up the middle and he moved up to second when Plassmeyer balked. Scott Ota soon delivered the first RBI of the day for the Flames, driving home Cronin with a double to right-center field.
 
Andersen retired seven batters in a row before Mizzou scratched out another tally in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Berler ripped a lead-off double and he moved to third when the next Tiger single. With runners on the corners Andersen got a double play grounder that secured two outs, but also allowed Berler to score and increase the Missouri lead to three runs, 4-1.
 
UIC was able to chase Plassmeyer from the game in the top of the sixth without hitting the ball out of the infield. Cody Bohanek led off with a bunt single before Thomas Norton reached on an error by Mizzou's third baseman. Ricardo Ramirez walked to load the bases and the Tigers went to the bullpen, calling on Sikkema. Cronin offered at Sikkema's first pitch and the ball found no-man's land as he beat the ball to first base, while Bohanek scored to cut the deficit in half.
 
Two batters later, Ota went to work again, got the ball well out of the infield, and tied the game with a base hit to the opposite field. Ramirez trotted in from third and Cronin hustled home from second to tie the game at 4-4. Sikkema was able to come back and retire the next two hitters without any further damage. In all, UIC got three runs on three hits, a walk, and a Missouri error to even the ledger.
 
Ryan Campbell relieved Andersen and worked around a pair of free passes in the bottom of the sixth, but the Tigers regained the lead an inning later against Charlie Cerny. Pinch hitter Trey Harris drew a walk to begin the frame and he alertly made third when the next batter produced a single that trickled into the outfield. Cerny got a big strikeout for the first out, but a deep sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Berler put Missouri on top, 5-4. Cerny caught Nelson Mompierre looking at strike three to end the inning and strand a Tiger on third base at the end of the inning.
 
Sikkema struck out the middle of UIC's lineup in order in the top of the eighth then the Tigers were able to add an unearned run to double their slim lead with a run in the bottom of the frame. UIC's second 4-6-3 double play of the game limited Missouri's offense to a single run. The reliever struck out two more Flames in the top of the ninth to finish off the 6-4 triumph.
 
Beyond the Box Score

• Ota entered the game with three RBI on the young season and he doubled that total by driving in three of UIC's four runs Saturday.
• Cronin registered three hits for the third time this season. His four multi-hit games lead the Flames. The second baseman also scored a season-high two runs for UIC.
• Ramirez singled in the top of the fourth and he has reached base safely in a team-high eight consecutive games. The longest streak of Ramirez's career is 19 games, accomplished in 2016.
• Ryan Campbell has two scoreless appearances in the series in 1.2 innings of work out of the bullpen.
• UIC had not committed more than one error in each of its first seven games, but the Flames were tagged with two in each of the last two contests.
• Missouri has won nine consecutive games after losing its season opener to Eastern Michigan.

 
Up Next

• UIC and Missouri will conclude their three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. CT at Taylor Stadium.
• Reid Birlingmair is scheduled to toe the rubber for the Flames for the third time this season. The sophomore is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 12.1 innings of work this season. Opponents are hitting just .186 against him. The Flames are 2-0 in games that Birlingmair has started in 2017.
• Missouri will send Andy Toelken to the mound opposite Birlingmair. Toelken is also 1-0 with a sub-2.00 ERA (1.93).
• The game will be televised by the SEC Network+. A link to the broadcast can be found on UIC's schedule page.