HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.  – UIC let a three-run lead slip away in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday afternoon, but the Flames fired back to score six runs in the top of the ninth to rally past the Northern Kentucky Norse, 11-6.
 
UIC (19-13, 7-7 Horizon League) scored double-digit runs for the third consecutive games as the Flames moved back to six games above .500 overall and back to even in Horizon League play. Northern Kentucky (10-26, 5-12 Horizon League) was hampered by three errors, including two in the decisive ninth inning that led to six unearned runs.
 
David Becker drove in a career-high four runs Friday and he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the game-tying run Saturday. Pinch hitter Riley Herbert delivered an RBI groundout to give the Flames the lead before Matte Bottcher and Alex Dee drove in two runs apiece in the ninth inning to set the final margin.
 
Bottcher, Dee, Becker and Derrick Patrick each drove in two runs for UIC. Patrick had two hits, three walks, two runs and a stolen base, as well.
 
Charlie Cerny made his third career start on the hill for UIC. The junior turned in a quality effort by allowing two earned runs over 7.0 innings of work. The right-hander scattered five hits and struck out five without issuing a walk on the afternoon.

How It Happened
As they did in Friday's series opener, UIC scored in the top of the first frame Saturday. Patrick walked to begin the ballgame and he was on third base when Bowen Ogata ripped a double to left field to give the Flames an early 1-0 lead.
 
Cerny held the Norse in check through the first three innings before his offense spotted him three more in the top of the fourth. Patrick drove in Joshua Figueroa and Becker with a base hit that found its way through the right side. Bottcher, who was hit by a pitch in the inning, would come home on a sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Aaron Ackerman. That play gave UIC a 4-0 cushion.
 
Northern Kentucky responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Preston Pilat drove in one on an RBI double, which was the first earned run allowed by Cerny since Feb. 16 at New Orelans. Pilat later scored on an RBI single from Cole Heavlin.
 
Before Cerny's day was finished, the Flames manufactured another run in the top of the seventh. Dominic Smith led off with a single and stole second. He tagged and moved up to third base on fly ball off the bat of Thomas Norton before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Becker to give UIC a 5-2 advantage.
 
With Cerny out of the game following 7.0 strong innings, the Norse gained their first lead of the series with four runs in the bottom of the eighth. Chad Roberts hit a game-tying three-run home run before Brendan Alas followed with a solo shot that gave NKU a 6-5 lead heading into the ninth.
 
The resilient Flames put the pressure on the Norse and two errors early in the ninth set the table for the big comeback. The bases were loaded when Becker was plunked by Joe Martin. That scored pinch runner Ben Tharp and tied the game at six runs apiece. Hebert grabbed a bat as a pinch hitter and his groundout to the right side was enough to get Dylan Gilbert home and give the visitors the lead once again.
 
UIC was not done yet, however. The next hitter, Bottcher, laced a double down the line in right field to plate two more runs. Later, the bases were loaded for another pinch hitter, Alex Dee, and he uncorked a single that scored Bottcher and Patrick to give UIC an 11-6 lead.
 
Alex Padilla came on in a non-save situation and worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth to nail down the win and a second series victory of the season over the Norse.
 
Beyond the Box Score

• After scoring 17 total runs in seven games between March 30 and April 10, the Flames are averaging 14.0 runs per game in three wins since Tuesday.
• UIC improved to 7-0 when scoring 10-plus runs and 16-4 when scoring three times or more.
• The Flames won for the second time this season when trailing after eight innings. The last time it happened before Saturday was on Feb. 17 against Southern. UIC was down 4-1 entering the top of the ninth before scoring eight times to post a 9-5 victory. That game was part of the Andre Dawson Classic and was televised on MLB Network.
• Derrick Patrick is hitting .714 (5-of-7) in the series at Northern Kentucky. He has also walked five times and has scored four runs for the Flames.
• Charlie Cerny threw a career-high 7.0 innings Saturday, surpassing his previous high by three innings. His previous career high came on March 5, 2016 at Missouri, which was his last start before facing NKU Saturday.
• Opponents are hitting .106 against Cerny in 14.2 IP during Horizon League play.
• UIC secured its second series victory of the season over Northern Kentucky. The Flames improved to 12-3 all-time against the Norse since the latter joined the Horizon League in 2016.
• Saturday's game marked the eighth comeback win of the season for head coach Mike Dee's club in 2018.
• The Flames have won back-to-back road games for the second time this season. UIC also bested UTRGV in back-to-back efforts on Feb. 23-24.

Up Next

• UIC and Northern Kentucky will conclude the three-game series on Sunday, April 22 at 11 a.m. CT.
• The Flames are slated to send sophomore Jacob Key to the mound. He will be making his second start of the season against the Norse. In the first outing on March 18, Key allowed one earned run in 6.0 innings of work.
• Sunday's contest will once again be broadcast on ESPN3.