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UIC Athletics

thevalley
Joseph Craven/WSU
0
UIC UIC 6-9
4
Winner Illinois State ILS 13-6
UIC UIC
6-9
0
Final
4
Illinois State ILS
13-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UIC UIC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Illinois State ILS 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 X 4 6 1

W: Wicklund, Brett (2-0) L: Toikka, Braeden (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Flames Sputter at Illinois State

Winning streak halted at four games

NORMAL, Ill. – UIC was shut out for only the second time in 2019 Tuesday as the Flames fell at Illinois State, 4-0. UIC loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but the rally ended without the visitors denting the scoreboard at Duffy Bass Field.

After batting .800 over the weekend against Oakland in Horizon League play, freshman Ryan Hampe continued to swing a hot stick for the Flames (6-9) as he picked up two hits on Tuesday. Thomas Smart and Alex Dee combined to pick up the other three hits for the Flames.

Illinois State (13-6) scored two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run from Joe Aeilts to establish an early lead. The Redbirds added one in the fourth and another in the seventh to pull away.

Perhaps UIC's largest threat to score came in its last at-bat. After a couple of quick outs, Smart sparked a rally when he reached on an infield single against ISU reliever Jacob Gilmore. David Becker then walked on four pitches before Hampe drew a free pass on a full-count pitch to load the bases. Gilmore bounced back to get a swinging strikeout to end the ballgame.

Notable
  • Thomas Smart has reached base safely in all 15 games this season. He singled in his first at-bat to extend the streak. Tuesday's game marked Smart's first start as the designated hitter. He opened the first 13 games at third base and started in left field in UIC's previous game against Oakland on Sunday.
  • Since a win against Chicago State on March 12, Ryan Hampe is hitting .875 (7-for-8) for the Flames with three RBI, three walks and four runs scored. He is batting Tuesday's was Hampe's first career start behind the plate and his sixth start overall. He has appeared in eight games. He's hitting .444.
  • David Becker made his first start at third base as a member of the UIC Flames. He had two assists Tuesday. Becker has played three of the four infield positions this season (excluding shortstop).
  • Fred Gosbeth did not surrender an earned run in 2.0 innings of relief work. He's pitched 2.0 innings in both of his relief appearances this season (March 8 vs. Chicago State [game two]).
  • Freshman Mark McCabe made his third consecutive scoreless appearance out of the UIC bullpen. He struck out two of the three Redbirds he faced Tuesday, marking the first time he has punched out more than one hitter in any appearance.
  • UIC was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position on Tuesday, while Illinois State converted two of its five opportunities.
  • Illinois State will travel to Chicago for a rematch at Granderson Stadium on Tuesday, April 16 at 6:05 p.m.
On Deck
  • The Flames will resume the conference slate on Friday afternoon, when the Wright State Raiders blow into the Windy City to begin a three-game at 4:05 p.m.
  • UIC and Wright State have combined to win every Horizon League regular-season championship since 2014. The Raiders have won three in that time with the Flames taking two, most recently in 2017.
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