CHICAGO -- UIC won both ends of a doubleheader Friday, topping Oakland by scores of 4-3 and 8-1 at Granderson Stadium.

The Flames (15-5, 4-1 Horizon League) squandered a 3-0 lead in the first game as Oakland (3-17, 1-4 Horizon League) scored twice in the top of the eighth to tie the game. Junior Dominic Smith, who earlier had a two-run double, delivered a base hit over the head of OU second baseman Mario Camilletti to plate the game-winning run.

In the nightcap, Smith blasted a three-run home run deep to left field as part of a four-run second inning. UIC scored again in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to cruise to an 8-1 victory. It was the most runs the team has scored in Horizon League play this season. The run support bolstered Reid Birlingmair who delivered a season-high 8.0 shutout innings, while allowing just two hits and striking out nine.

How It Happened – Game One
The Flames first broke through with a crooked number in the bottom of the fourth inning. Aaron Ackerman doubled to left field to begin the frame and he was on third base with two outs and Joshua Figueroa at the dish. UIC's designated hitter knocked a tough-to-handle grounder past the mound for an RBI single. Two batters later, after David Becker was hit in the back, Dominic Smith clubbed his own two-base hit off the wall in left. Both Flames aboard scored on the play and increased the lead to three runs.
 
Oakland got its first run, an unearned tally, against UIC starting pitcher in the top of the sixth on a base hit through the left side form Tyler Trovinger. In the bottom of the inning the Flames had runners on second and third with two out, but could not get a run home and led 3-1 after six.
 
The Golden Grizzlies sent eight men to the plate and scored twice in the top of the eighth to tie the game. Two-out RBI singles from Ben Hart and Myles Zilinsky against UIC's Alex Padilla tied the game at three runs apiece.
 
The Flames threw a counterpunch in the bottom of the eighth. Alex Dee struck out against Nate Schweers to start the inning, but he reached first base thanks to a wild pitch. The next hitter, Josh Figueroa reached on a fielder's choice and pinch runner Trey Beckman made second safely because Schweers couldn't get a clean throw off. Beckman and another pinch runner, Ben Tharp, moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt from Becker before Smith delivered a single over the head of a drawn-in Camilletti. Beckman scored easily and UIC took a 4-3 lead it would not relinquish as Charlie Cerny pitched a perfect ninth to nail down the victory for the home team.
 
How It Happened – Game Two
Birlingmair was sharp early on. He struck out the side in the top of the first and also faced the minimum in the second after a lead-off single was erased on a fielder's choice before Hart was caught stealing at second by a wide margin. Then the offense came to life once more.
 
Scott Ota singled to right field to begin the bottom of the second before Dee was hit by a pitch from Oakland's Jacob Raymond. Bowen Ogata pushed the pair up a base on a sacrifice bunt before Becker registered a base hit up the middle that scored Ota for the first run of the contest. Smith came up next and launched a three-run home run, his second of the season, deep to left field to add to the advantage and it was 4-0 after two innings.
 
The Flames tacked on a run in the fifth when Aaron Ackerman, who walked three times in the game, came home on a sacrifice fly from Dee, the reigning Horizon League Batter of the Week. UIC hung another crooked number on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth as Thomas Norton and Ota drove in runs to make it 7-0 in favor of the home team.
 
With the Golden Grizzlies still unable to break Birlingmair, the Flames added another score in the bottom of the seventh. Riley Hebert was called upon to pinch hit for Ogata and he cranked a home run out to right field for his first collegiate round-tripper, giving UIC an 8-0 lead.
 
Birlingmair was lifted after a season-high 8.0 IP and Oakland scratched out an unearned run in the top of the ninth. Ronnie Krsolovic scored on sacrifice fly from Austin Tangney.

Postgame Reaction

 



Beyond The Box Score

• UIC swept a doubleheader for the first time this season, outscoring the Golden Grizzlies 12-4 in two games Friday.
• The Flames scored eight runs in the nightcap, most in five Horizon League games this spring.
• UIC's two starting pitchers Friday – Ryan Campbell and Reid Birlingmair - did not allow an earned run over 14.0 IP. The scattered seven hits, struck out 16 and walked only one.
• Birlingmair has matched a season high with nine strikeouts in back-to-back starts. He has hit that mark three times in 2018 and allowed a season-low two hits Friday.
• Dominic Smith drove in six runs Friday. The Brentwood, Calif., native is batting a team best .467 (7-of-15) with eight RBI in Horizon League play.
• With 1.1 scoreless IP in the opener, Charlie Cerny has made seven consecutive scoreless appearances out of the bullpen spanning 10.2 IP. He lowered his ERA on the season to 0.47 and won for the third time.
• Thomas Smart hit in the leadoff spot in both games Friday, marking the first times in his career he's assumed that role. The sophomore got on base three times over the two games and scored a run in the second contest.

Up Next

• UIC and Oakland will take a break before concluding the three-game series on Sunday, March 25.
• First pitch of the finale is slated for 12:05 p.m. CT
• The Flames are scheduled to send RHP Jacob Key (1-1, 2.61 ERA) to the mound. He led the Horizon League entering the weekend with 39 strikeouts on the year. Oakland will counter with RHP Jake Lee (1-4, 9.82 ERA).