FAIRBORN, Ohio – UIC blanked Milwaukee for the fourth time in as many meetings this season as the Flames topped the Panthers in their first game of the 2018 Horizon League Baseball Championship Thursday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium, 6-0.
 
The Horizon League Pitcher of the Year Ryan Campbell was nothing short of sensational on the mound for UIC (29-16). Following a single with one down in the top of the second inning, the senior retired 23 consecutive Panthers (25-27) to finish off his League-leading fifth complete game of the season. It was the Carmel, Ind., native's second time going the distance without allowing a run against Milwaukee. He allowed only two hits, struck out five and did not walk a hitter Thursday, throwing 95 pitches.
 
Matt Bottcher had a career-high three hits, while Aaron Ackerman drove in a pair of runs to pace the offense. The top five batters in the Flames lineup – Derrick Patrick, Bottcher, Dominic Smith, Scott Ota and Ackerman – hit .524 (11-for-21) with three RBI and six runs scored.
 
The Flames advance to face top-seeded Wright State on Friday, May 25 at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT. The Raiders knocked off No. 5 Youngstown State earlier Thursday, 11-1.

Highlights

 
How It Happened
UIC struck for the game's first runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against Milwaukee and starting pitcher Elijah Goodman. Matt Bottcher and Dominic Smith each singled to open the frame and after a flyout to shallow center field, Aaron Ackerman delivered the first blow. The All-Horizon League backstop ripped a single to left-center field that scored Bottcher from second base. Smith came around and slid home safely thanks to a bobble in the outfield, giving the Flames a 2-0 lead.
 
Second-seeded UIC hung another crooked number on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth and chased Goodman from the ballgame. Derrick Patrick singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Bottcher's third hit in as many at-bats, a base hit to left field. The Flames second baseman would eventually score on a balk and Bowen Ogata drove in the third run of the frame with a line drive to center field that plated Scott Ota to give the designated home team a 5-0 edge.
 
Ota continued to help UIC add to its lead in the bottom of the seventh. The right fielder ripped a one-hop triple to the wall in right-center field to begin the inning. He would score easily when Ackerman poked his second RBI single of the day into right field to give the Flames a 6-0 lead.
 
One run was plenty for Campbell on this day. After UWM third baseman Ben Chally singled over a leaping Bottcher at second base with one away in the top of the second, no Panther reached base as Campbell retired 23 in a row to conclude the afternoon. Trevor Schwecke had the other hit for Milwaukee, a base hit in the top of the first.

Postgame Reaction





Beyond the Box Score

• UIC recorded its eighth shutout of the season Friday, and fourth against Milwaukee. The Flames entered the day tied for fourth nationally in that category and have now moved within one of NCAA leader UCF (9).
• In four games against Milwaukee this season, UIC has held the Panthers to no runs on 11 hits. Twice the Flames have held UWM to only two hits, marking two of the three times the staff and defense has done so this spring. Milwaukee has not walked in 36 innings against UIC, and the Panthers have struck out 26 times.
• The Flames, via Ryan Campbell, lowered the staff ERA to 2.79 for the season. UIC began the day ranked fourth nationally in that category behind Stetson (2.60), St. John's (2.66) and Stanford (2.77).
• Campbell is 2-0 against Milwaukee this season. He's allowed four hits in 18.0 IP with two complete-game shutouts. Campbell has struck out 12 Panthers without issuing a base on balls.
• He lowered his overall ERA to 1.53 after beginning the day ranked 14^th in the NCAA at 1.69.
• Campbell made his 11^th quality start in 13 outings in 2018, and seventh against an Horizon League opponent.
• Campbell completed his outing using 95 pitches. UWM starter Elijah Goodman needed 93 to get through 4.2 after allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk.
• UIC has scored 51 runs in fourth innings this season. The Flames have not scored more than 31 in any other frame (9^th).
• UIC's Matt Bottcher collected a career-high three hits Thursday. He also matched a career best by scoring twice.
• Scott Ota hit his sixth triple of the season to open the bottom of the seventh inning. It was his 13^th career three-base hit, which ranks third in program history behind Steve McGuiggan (17) and Mike Hughes (15).
• Aaron Ackerman was one of six UIC hitters with a multi-hit game Thursday. The San Ramon, Calif., native has a team-high 16 multi-hit games this season. He led the club with two RBI against Milwaukee sixth multi-RBI effort.
• The Flames improved to 24-1 when leading after six innings, 25-0 when up after seven and 26-0 with a lead after eight.
• UIC has posted shutouts in back-to-back Horizon League Championship openers. The Flames took down Oakland, 8-0, on May 25, 2017 at Granderson Stadium.
• The Flames have won their first game of the conference championship 15 times in 20 seasons under head coach Mike Dee. UIC is unbeaten in its last four openers since 2015.

Up Next

• UIC will advance to take on No. 1 Wright State in a semifinal matchup on Friday, May 25 at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT
• The host Raiders defeated No. 5 Youngstown State in their first game of the tournament Thursday afternoon, 11-1.
• WSU won the regular-season series, 4-2, and took two-of-three at Nischwitz Stadium, May 4-6. The Flames won the last meeting, 7-4, on May 6.
• UIC topped Wright State twice in last year's Horizon League Championship, winning a semifinal game 4-1, and the title tilt, 4-2.