CHICAGO -- UIC will continue its season-opening six-game road trip this weekend when it travels to the Lone Star State for a three-game series against the Texas A&M Aggies at Blue Bell Park. The set opens on Friday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. and all three games will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.

The Flames (0-3) dropped three games over a two-day span to begin the campaign at the ATL Challenge. UIC struggled to find an offensive rhythm throughout the weekend as the squad batted only .153 with four extra-base hits against Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State and Georgia State. Matt Bottcher, Scott Ota and Thomas Smart each led the way with three hits as Ota and Smart each homered during the weekend. Smart, Chris Papapietro and Joshua Figueroa each drove in a pair of runs.

Texas A&M (5-0) swept its first series of the 2019 campaign against Fordham. The Aggies won the opener, 4-0, before powering their way to a 19-6 victory on Saturday. The series closed with a 3-1 win for TAMU. The Aggies also played a pair of midweek games, defeating Stephen F. Austin and Prairie View A&M at Blue Bell Park.

Playing in four of the team's five games, Cam Blake is batting a team-best .444 with four RBI. Bryce Blaum is hitting .400 in five games with eight hits and eight runs scored, both team highs.

UIC is slated to send 2018 All-Horizon League Second Team starter Jacob Key to the mound Friday. At Georgia Tech on Feb. 15, Key struck out five over 4.2 IP, but scattered eight hits and walked three Yellow Jackets. Patrick Martin will be tabbed to make his first start and second appearance on Saturday. A graduate student, Martin made his UIC debut with a scoreless inning of relief at Kennesaw State on Feb. 16. Joey Fredrickson is scheduled to start the finale of the series on Sunday. In his first start of the year, the Tinley Park, Ill., native allowed two earned runs over 4.0 IP, but did not factor in the decision at Georgia State.

Probable Pitching Matchups (UIC vs. TAMU)
Friday: RHP Jacob Key (0-1, 9.64 ERA) vs. LHP John Doxakis (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Patrick Martin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Asa Lacy (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Joey Fredrickson (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP Jonathan Childress (0-0, 1.93 ERA)