CHICAGO – UIC opened conference play by sweeping a doubleheader against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies Saturday afternoon, winning by scores of 3-1 in the opener and 7-2 in the second game.

UIC (5-8, 2-0 Horizon League) received another terrific outing from starting pitcher Jacob Key in the first game. The reigning Horizon League Pitcher of the Week threw 7.1 innings and did not allow a run, while scattering four hits. He also fanned five Golden Grizzlies (0-16, 0-2 Horizon League). Scott Ota's two-run home run in the third inning and Thomas Smart's insurance bomb in the eighth provided the offense.

Oakland struck for a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third in game two, but the Flames scored once in the bottom half and three times in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good. Designated hitter Ryan Hampe was 3-for-3 in the nightcap with two RBI and two runs scored, while Joshua Figueroa and Matt Bottcher each added two RBI as well.

How It Happened – Game One

• UIC threatened to score in the bottom of the second inning. David Becker singled with one down before Chris Papapietro sliced a double to the corner in right field. Tom Farrell walked to loaded the bases, but the Golden Grizzlies turned an inning-ending double play to escape.
• After Oakland had a runner on third base with one out, Jacob Key kept him right there and the visitors off the scoreboard, the Flames finally broke through thanks to a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning. Derrick Patrick singled and stole second before Scott Ota poked his fourth home run of the season, and second in as many games, out to right field. The blast gave UIC a 2-0 lead.
• The Flames added a run to their modest lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Thomas Smart led off the frame and crushed a towering home run that carried over the UIC bullpen in left field and out of Granderson Stadium.
• Oakland put together a rally in the top of the ninth that produced one run, but it was not enough to extend the ballgame. Drew Demumbrum walked with one out and eventually scored on an RBI groundout off the bat of Ryan Fitzgerald. Alex Padilla, on as the closer for the Flames, got a ground ball to Matt Bottcher at shortstop to end the ballgame.

How It Happened – Game Two

• Oakland plated a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third inning to strike first in game two. The first scored on an errant throw and the second came home on an RBI groundout from Matt Dileo.
• Bottcher helped UIC cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame. Hampe started the inning with the first of three singles he would collect, and with tow away, Bottcher deposited a double into the corner in left field. It allowed Hampe to score.
• The Flames hung a crooked number on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Ota and Smart opened with back-to-back singles and Becker tried to sacrifice the runners, but Oakland's throw to third was late and the sacks were packed. Chris Papapietro's sacrifice fly to center field scored Ota and tied the game before Hampe gave UIC a 3-2 lead with a base hit past the diving shortstop. Then Hampe scored all the way from first base for the second inning a row when Figueroa doubled to left field.
• As Joey Fredrickson continued to mow down the Golden Grizzlies, the Flames added another run in the sixth. Papapietro scored when Bottcher was hit by a pitch on his back foot with the bases loaded.
• In the bottom of the seventh, UIC added two more runs courtesy of Hampe and Figueroa. David Becker singled with two outs to start the rally. He made it to third base with the help of a wild pitch and a balk. After Papapietro walked, Hampe hit a ball off the Oakland pitcher that allowed Becker to score. Papapietro would come home when Figueroa notched another base hit back through the middle. That set the final margin of victory at 7-2.

 Notable

• Jacob Key issued his first walk since Feb. 15 at Georgia Tech in the top of the fourth inning. Matt Dileo drew a base on balls on a full-count pitch with one out in the fourth. That ended Key's streak of consecutive innings without walking a batter at 27.1.
• Thomas Smart has reached base safely in all 13 games this season. He was hit by a pitch in the third inning of game one and singled in the fourth inning of the nightcap to extend the streak.
• Matt Bottcher was the lone UIC batter to record at least two hits in both games Saturday. He leads the team with seven multi-hit games this season.
• The first game of the doubleheader was the first time this season that UIC homered twice in a single game with Scott Ota and Thomas Smart each going deep.
• Ryan Hampe joined Ota and Bottcher as Flames with three-hit games this season.
• Joey Fredrickson finished his start with three strikeouts over 6.0 IP and all three came in the top of the first inning.
• Fredrickson and Ryan O'Reilly combined to retire 14 consecutive Golden Grizzlies between the fourth and eighth innings. Oakland opened the ninth with a base hit, but Mark McCabe got a double-play ball to eliminate the runner quickly.
• Alex Padilla earned his first save of the season in game one. He ranks second in program history with 19 saves. Brett Davis is the all-time leader with 30.

On Deck

• UIC and Oakland will wrap up the set on Sunday at 12:05 p.m.
• Patrick Martin is slated to start for the Flames. He has not pitched since Feb. 23 at Texas A&M. It will be his second start of the spring.