CHICAGO -- UIC will continue its pursuit of the top spot in the Horizon League when it welcomes the Oakland Golden Grizzlies to Granderson Stadium for a three-game set beginning Friday, April 7 at 4:05 p.m. Originally slated to be played in Michigan, the series moved to Chicago because of unplayable conditions at Oakland Baseball Field. As a result, the Flames will be designated as the visiting team for all three meetings this weekend.

UIC (18-7, 8-1 Horizon League) has protected its home turf well, winning 11 of its 12 games at Granderson Stadium this spring. As a team, the Flames are scoring an average of 6.3 runs per game at home, while batting .314 with 28 extra-base hits. David Cronin, who leads the Horizon League in both batting average and on-base percentage, is hitting .375 in Chicago and getting on at a clip of .475. Five players have driven in at least nine runs at home, led by Scott Ota with 14 and Ricardo Ramirez with 12.

As effective as the Flames have been at the plate, they have been equally strong on the mound in 12 home games. The UIC pitching staff owns a 1.70 earned-run average at home and opponents are batting .195 against it in 111 innings. Friday's probable starter, Jake Dahlberg, has won four consecutive decisions at Granderson Stadium, while Saturday's pitcher, Reid Birlingmair, is the reigning Horizon League Pitcher of the Week. The third weekend regular, Jack Andersen, sports a 1.47 ERA in three starts at home.

Overall, the Flames have been one of the top staffs in the nation this spring. The group's ERA, 2.78, ranks 13^th in the NCAA through April 5, and five shutouts ranks ninth. UIC is 16^th in hits allowed per nine innings at 7.17 and 18^th in WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched) at 1.18.

The Flames have established themselves as one of the elite defensive teams in the country in 2017. UIC's fielding percentage, .985, is the best mark in the NCAA through April 5. The Flames have been charged with only five errors in the last 16 games and they are 14-2 during that span. The team's average of 1.21 double plays turned per game ranks second overall in the country at this time.

Oakland (3-23, 1-5 Horizon League) is in its first season under the direction of co-head coaches Colin Kaline and Jacke Healey. Offensively, the Golden Grizzlies are led by senior Zach Sterry. He ranks second in the Horizon League behind Cronin (38) with 34 hits and fourth in batting average (.337). On the mound, Jake Lee ranks second in the conference with 42 strikeouts. The pitching staff leads the League with 50 strikeouts looking this spring.

Pitching Probables:
Friday, 4:05 p.m. - LHP Jake Dahlberg (4-1, 2.81 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Lee (0-5, 5.80 ERA)
Saturday, 3:05 p.m. - RHP Reid Birlingmair (3-1, 2.58 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Palm (0-4, 6.93 ERA)
Sunday, 12:05 p.m. - RHP Jack Andersen (1-1, 4.13 ERA) vs. TBA