COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- UIC snagged a lead Friday night at Texas A&M, but the Aggies scored the game's final three runs to take out the Flames, 3-1.

Jacob Key turned in his first quality start of the season for UIC (0-4), allowing just one earned run over a season-high 6.2 innings pitched. The defense did Key no favors with a season-high five errors.

Scott Ota drove in the first run of the night for the Flames with an RBI groundout that scored Dominic Smith in the top of the third inning. Texas A&M (6-0) countered with two runs in the bottom of the frame and added one in the fourth.

How It Happened

• Neither team had made a dent on the scoreboard when Smith opened the third inning with his first hit of the season, a base hit up the middle. Sean Dee followed and reached on a sacrifice bunt when the TAMU catcher made an errant throw. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch before Ota drove in Smith and gave UIC a 1-0 lead with a ground ball to the left side.
• Later in the inning Thomas Smart was hit by a pitch and stole second base, but the Flames would strand a pair in scoring position as TAMU's John Doxakis spun one of his eight strikeouts to get out of the jam.
• The Aggies took advantage of four UIC errors in the bottom of the third to plate two unearned runs. The Flames committed three throwing errors and had one fielding miscue to help hand Texas A&M a 2-1 lead.
• The home team added to its lead with a single run in the bottom of the fourth. Logan Foster singled on the infield to begin the frame and he advanced to second when Key was called for a balk. He moved to third base two batters later and scored on a fielder's choice.

Notable

• Sean Dee made his first career start at second base Friday. He opened the game on the right side of the infielder next to his older brother, Alex Dee, who manned first base for the Flames.
• Thomas Smart is the only UIC hitter batting above .300 on the season. The junior is one of two Flames with a team-high four hits this season (also Matt Bottcher).
• Smart had a stolen base on Friday. It was the first of the season for the Flames.
• UIC is batting .147 as a team through four games. The Flames have fanned 50 times at the dish, while amassing only four extra-base hits.
• The Flames stranded a season-high eight runners on base Friday.

On Deck

• The series continues Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT.
• Patrick Martin is scheduled to make his first start in a UIC uniform. The southpaw threw 1.0 IP in relief at Kennesaw State on Feb. 16
• Saturday's game will stream on SECN+.