CHICAGO -- After opening Horizon League play with a sweep against Oakland at Granderson Stadium last weekend, the UIC Flames will seek to remain unbeaten in conference play when it hosts the League's defending champion, Wright State, in a three-game series. The set begins on Friday, March 22 at 4:05 p.m. and continues with single games Saturday (1:05 p.m.) and Sunday (12:05 p.m.) afternoon.

Prior to a setback at Illinois State on Tuesday, UIC (6-9, 3-0 Horizon League) had rattled off a season-high four consecutive victories, all at Granderson Stadium. As a team, the Flames are batting .275 with 13 extra-base hits in six home games. Matt Bottcher bats .385 at home with a team-high 10 hits. In more limited action, freshman Ryan Hampe is hitting .833 in three home games with three RBI for the Flames. The New Lenox, Ill., native has started three consecutive games, including two as a designated hitter and one as the catcher (at ISU).

Similar to the recent past, UIC has established itself as one of the top pitching staffs in the NCAA. The squad's team ERA of 3.06 leads the Horizon League and ranks 24^th in the NCAA. The Flames are 14^th in the nation in walks allowed per 9.0 innings and 30^th in WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched). Junior Jacob Key, scheduled to start the series opener against WSU, has backed up his All-Horizon League performance from 2018. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native owns a 2.04 ERA in five starts and he has not allowed an earned run since March 1, covering a span of 24.2 innings. Key is tied for the national lead with two complete games this season.

After takes the ball on Friday, senior Joey Fredrickson is slated to toe the rubber on Saturday. He owns a 4.39 ERA in five starts this season and he collected Horizon League Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 25 after taming the Texas A&M Aggies on the road. Left-hander Patrick Martin is scheduled to start the series finale for UIC on Sunday. The Arlington Heights, Ill., native has allowed one earned run in 10.0 innings of work this spring with two starts and a relief appearance.

Wright State comes to Chicago with a conference-best 12 wins overall and a 2-1 mark in conference games. The Raiders have three wins against top-25 teams on the road, at No. 10 Ole Miss (Feb. 16), at No. 19 Oklahoma State (Feb. 24) and at No. 9 East Carolina (March 2).

Under first-year head coach Alex Sogaard, WSU leads the conference in many offensive categories, including: batting average (.287), slugging percentage (.420), on-base percentage (.390), runs (125), stolen bases (40), walks (91) and total bases (253). The Raiders have struck out just 112 times, fewest in the conference. Peyton Burdick is slashing .400/.700/.566, leading the Horizon League in all three categories. Burdick and Seth Gray are tied for the conference lead with 20 RBI, while teammate Zach Weatherford is third with 19. JD Orr has 21 stolen bases, which is more than all but one Horizon League team (Youngstown State).

Probable Pitching Matchups (UIC vs. WSU)
RHP Jacob Key (2-3, 2.04 ERA) vs. RHP Bear Bellomy (2-2, 5.14 ERA)
RHP Joey Fredrickson (2-2, 4.39 ERA) vs. LHP Zane Collins (4-1, 2.77 ERA)
LHP Patrick Martin (0-1, 0.90 ERA) vs. RHP Bradley Brehmer (1-0, 6.08 ERA)

All three games will be streamed on ESPN3. Links are available in the blue box at the top of the page and on the UIC schedule page.