CHICAGO -- Following an extended layoff of nearly a week, the UIC Flames hope to resume the 2018 slate at Granderson Stadium on Tuesday, April 17, when the Viterbo V-Hawks invade the Windy City for a non-conference battle at 4:05 p.m.

Once again, the first pitch is slated for 4:05 p.m. CT. The start time was moved up from the originally scheduled time of 6:35 p.m.

The Flames (16-13) have not played since falling on April 10 at Northern Illinois, 10-5. Last weekend's Horizon League series at Milwaukee was first relocated to Chicago and then wiped out altogether by the unsavory weather conditions that have blanketed the region. UIC has played only four games in the month of April thus far, all of which took place between April 7-10.

Head coach Mike Dee's team enters Tuesday's tussle with the V-Hawks in search of a spark. After opening the season with 15 wins in the first 20 games, UIC has found victory just once in its last nine outings, a 2-1 win over Wright State on April 7. The club is averaging 2.1 runs per game since March 25, while opponents are scoring about 4.8 runs per game in that span and batting .301 with 19 extra-base hits.

Bright spots at the dish of late include a trio of Flames batting .300 or better. Derrick Patrick is hitting .313 in only four games since March 25. Last time out at NIU, the redshirt junior clubbed his first home run of the season and scored a pair of runs for UIC. Thomas Norton (.310) and Bowen Ogata (.300) have combined for 18 hits and 20 total bases over the team's last nine games.

The pitching staff has been pestered by a few rough frames, but has been relatively strong throughout the season. The team earned-run average, 3.21 for the season, ranks 20^th in the NCAA entering the week. Out of the bullpen, Noah Masa has appeared in relief in five of the last nine games, surrendering just one run in 9.1 innings of work. The right-hander has posted 10 strikeouts and walked only two hitters in that span.

This is the second consecutive season that the Flames will host the V-Hawks at Granderson Stadium. UIC won last year's meeting. 9-2.

Viterbo (10-30), an NAIA squad, last took the field on Thursday, April 12, when it won two-of-three games in a tripleheader against Presentation College.

Tuesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN3. Jonathan Hood will be in the booth to call all the action.