COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- UIC was strong in all facets of the game Sunday afternoon as the Flames picked up their first win of the 2019 campaign with a 7-2 victory at Texas A&M. The Aggies led 2-0 leading into the sixth inning before UIC scored seven unanswered runs to finish the ballgame.

Starting pitcher Joey Fredrickson was brilliant on the bump for the Flames (1-5). The redshirt senior tossed a career-high 8.0 IP, in which he allowed only two runs on five hits. He did not allow a hit over his final 3.0 IP as he he helped protect the lead before turning it over to Alex Padilla for the ninth to shut down the Aggies (7-1).

Sean Dee's RBI double scored Ryan Hampe for UIC's first run of the game before the next batter, Scott Ota, uncorked his second home run of the season down the right-field line to give the Flames a lead they would not relinquish. Ota led the Flames with three hits and three RBI as he drove in another run in the top of the ninth.

How It Happened

• The Aggies went to work on offense right away Sunday. After the Flames went down in order in the top of the first, Texas A&M got a leadoff home run off the bat of Bryce Blaum to take a 1-0 lead.
• The home doubled its advantage with a two-out score in the bottom of the third inning.
• UIC hung a crooked number on the scoreboard to take the lead in the top of the sixth. Ryan Hampe reached on an error to start the inning and he scored from first base when Sean Dee clobbered a double to left-center field. The next batter, Scott Ota, put the ball out of the ballpark down the line in right to give the Flames a 3-2 lead.
• After Joey Fredrickson set the Aggies down in order in the bottom of the sixth, the Flames added to their lead in the seventh. Dominic Smith started things off with a single before Alex Dee sacrificed himself to push up the runner. Chris Papapietro then brought Smith in with a single up the middle that made the score 4-2 in favor of UIC.
• The top of the lineup produced another run in the top of the eighth. Ota singled and made second on a sacrifice bunt from Matt Bottcher. The UIC right fielder then scored with ease as he traded places with Thomas Smart following a double down the line.
• The Flames tacked on two more runs with two outs in the top of the ninth. Sean Dee walked and then Ota doubled to drive in the team's sixth run of the ballgame. Bottcher then reached safely on an error, allowing Ota to score and set the final margin.

Notable

• Joey Fredrickson's eight-inning effort was a career high and the longest of the season for a UIC starting pitcher this season. He retired the final six batters he faced in order after the Flames handed over a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning.
• UIC reached double digits in the hits column for the first time this season. The team's seven runs also marked a season high.
• Ryan Hampe picked up his first collegiate hit with an infield single in the top of the third. It was the first hit of the day for the Flames.
• Hampe became the fourth different player to start as the designated hitter this season.
• Scott Ota has three of UIC's nine extra-base hits through six games and two of the team's three home runs. He also leads the squad with five RBI.
• UIC became the first team to hand Texas A&M a loss this season.

On Deck

• UIC's scheduled home game on Tuesday, Feb. 26 against Roosevelt has been canceled due to the chilly temperatures and chance of precipitation in the forecast. It has not been rescheduled at this time.
• The Flames will travel to SIUE for a four-game series, March 1-3. The teams will play single games on Friday and Sunday around a Saturday doubleheader.