CHICAGO -- UIC will put its five-game winning streak on the line Tuesday night when the Flames host the Northwestern Wildcats in a nonconference game under the lights at Granderson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

The Flames (17-7, 8-1 Horizon League) and Wildcats (8-18, 0-3 Big Ten) are meeting for the third time this season, but the first time in Chicago. UIC won each of the first two meetings in Evanston, claiming the first game 9-2 (7) on March 7, and the second 7-1 on March 21. The Flames are batting .348 as a team in the two games with nine extra-base hits. Two UIC players, catcher Rob Calabrese and shortstop Cody Bohanek, have combined to bat .588 (10-for-17) with five doubles and seven RBI against the 'Cats in 2017.

Freshman Jacob Key has started both games on the mound against Northwestern, allowing three earned runs over 9.1 innings of work. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native was credited with the victory on March 7, while Noah Masa collected his first career win with 3.2 scoreless innings of relief on March 21. UIC owns a 1.69 staff ERA in two games against the Wildcats, and it has surrendered only one extra-base hit in 64 plate appearances.

Including the win over the Wildcats on March 7, UIC has won 13 of its last 14 games overall. As a team, UIC is hitting .320 with 37 extra-base hits in the last 14 games. Scott Ota (17), Bohanek (13), Ricardo Ramirez (13), Calabrese (12), and David Cronin (10) all own double-digit RBI during the span. The pitching staff owns a 1.91 ERA and an opposing batting average of .217 since March 7. Three starting pitchers - Jack Andersen (1.47), Key (1.76) and Reid Birlingmair (1.95) - all have earned-run averages below 2.00, while three relievers - Alex Padilla, Noah Masa and Mitchell Schulewitz - have yet to surrender an earned run in at least four appearances during the stretch.

Northwestern comes to Granderson Stadium after winning three of its last four games to close a lengthy 12-game homestand. The Wildcats won a nonconference series against Air Force over the weekend, clinching the set on a walk-off home run off the bat of Connor Lind on Sunday afternoon. NU will send right-handed pitcher Josh Davis to the mound on Tuesday. The senior is 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA and eight strikeouts in 18.1 innings across five appearances this spring. He will be making his fourth start against the Flames.