CHICAGO – UIC finished the first weekend of Horizon League play by toppling the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, 4-2, on Sunday at Granderson Stadium. It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Flames and the third conference win in two days.

Ryan Hampe, Josuha Figueroa and Sean Dee all drove in runs for the Flames, while five UIC (6-8, 3-0 Horizon League) pitchers combined to surrender two runs on five hits in the series finale.

Ryan O'Reilly tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen as he earned his first win in a Flames uniform, while Alex Padilla worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second save in as many chances on the weekend.

How It Happened

• Neither team scored through the first three innings before UIC took the game's first lead in the bottom of the fourth. Scott Ota singled to begin the frame before Thomas Smart was hit by a pitch. David Becker sacrificed the pair up 90 feet apiece and then Hampe delivered an RBI groundout to the right side that scored Ota and gave the Flames a 1-0 lead. Then with Austin Franczak at the plate, Oakland starter Beau Keathley balked to allow Smart to score and make it 2-0 for the home team.
• The Golden Grizzlies managed to get two runs right back against the UIC bullpen in the top of the fifth. A single and a walk started the inning before Mario Camilletti knocked in both after a sacrifice bunt. The Flames turned a 9-4-3 double play to limit any further damage.
• With the score tied at 2-2, UIC scratched out two more tallies against Keathley in the bottom of the sixth. Smart led off with a base hit and Becker once again sacrificed him to second. Hampe was hit by a pitch and Franczak struck out, setting the table for Figueroa to deliver the go-ahead run. The catcher laced a single up the middle that scored Smart and allowed Hampe to scamper from first-to-third. The next batter, Dee, looped a base hit over Camilletti's head at second base and into right field to pad the lead.
• Oakland threatened to tie the game or take the lead in the top of the eighth. The first two batters reached via a walk and a base hit and the Golden Grizzlies had two in scoring position with just one out. Sam Menegat got a big strikeout for the second out before inducing a grounder to Dee at second to end the inning.
• The Flames walked twice in the bottom of the eighth, but could not score. Padilla came on for an uneventful ninth, punctuating with game with a strikeout of Myles Zilinsky, his third of the day.

Notable

• Thomas Smart has reached base safely in all 14 games this season. He was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning to extend the streak. It was the second time in three games that he extended the streak by getting plunked. He has been hit eight times this season, four more than any other player on the team (David Becker).
• Ryan Hampe hit .800 in the two games he played in the series (4-for-5) with three RBI and three runs scored.
• Ryan O'Reilly earned his first win as a UIC reliever Sunday. It was the first time this season that the Flames picked up a win courtesy of the bullpen.
• UIC pitchers held Oakland to a batting average of .185 with 17 hits in the three-game series. The Flames lowered their staff ERA to 3.03 for the season.
• Alex Padilla earned his second save of the series Sunday. He ranks second in program history with 20 saves. Brett Davis is the all-time leader with 30.
• The Flames and Northern Kentucky are the only two Horizon League teams to go 3-0 on the weekend. NKU swept Youngstown State at home.

Postgame Reaction



On Deck

• UIC will travel to Illinois State on Tuesday, March 19 for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
• The Flames will return to Granderson Stadium next weekend to host the defending Horizon League champions, Wright State, for three games. The Raiders took two-of-three from Milwaukee at home on opening weekend.