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UIC Athletics

thevalley
Matt Bottcher
Steve Woltmann
1
Chicago State CSU 3-7
5
Winner UIC UIC 2-7
Chicago State CSU
3-7
1
Final
5
UIC UIC
2-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chicago State CSU 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 2
UIC UIC 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 X 5 7 1

W: Key, Jacob (1-3) L: Gregory, Brett (1-2)

4
UIC UIC 2-8
8
Winner Chicago State CSU 3-8
UIC UIC
2-8
4
Final
8
Chicago State CSU
3-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UIC UIC 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 7 1
Chicago State CSU 0 0 4 3 0 0 0 1 X 8 13 2

W: Leedle, Anthony (1-1) L: Fredrickson, Joey (1-2) S: Halim, Yunis (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Key Carries @UICBaseball to Doubleheader Split

Flames win opener, 5-1, before falling in nightcap, 8-4

CHICAGO – UIC lifted the lid on the home portion of its 2019 schedule on Friday afternoon by splitting a doubleheader with the Chicago State Cougars. The Flames (2-8) claimed the opener, 5-1, before the Cougars (3-8) took the nightcap, 8-4.

UIC starter Jacob Key continued to lead the way on the mound for the Flames in game one. He threw his second complete game in as many starts and struck out six while allowing a single unearned run. David Becker, Joshua Figueroa and Tom Farrell all drove in runs to help UIC to victory.

The Flames, playing as the visiting team in game two, got off to a great start with two runs in the top of the second to take an early lead. Chicago State scored the next seven to take the lead for good. Chris Papapietro drove in two runs on an RBI triple in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to three runs, but the Flames could not come any closer.

How It Happened – Game 1
  • After Key retired the Cougars in order with a pair of strikeouts to start the game, the offense went to work right away in the bottom half. Matt Bottcher singled to start the frame and UIC loaded the bases with one out. CSU got a strikeout to threaten an end to the rally, but Becker walked with the sacks packed to plate the first run before Figueroa plated Scott Ota on an infield single.
  • The Cougars scored an unearned run with two away in the top of the third, but the Flames tacked on a score of their own in the bottom of the inning. Figueroa walked with two outs and he scored from first base on an RBI double to left field by Farrell that was lost in the sunshine by the CSU fielder.
  • Bottcher set the table for another run in UIC's half of the fourth. He singled up the middle with one away and stole second base. He would score when Derrick Patrick reached on an error thanks to a misplay from CSU's left fielder Reggie Brock Jr. to increase the home team's lead back to three runs at 4-1.
  • Ota scored the fifth and final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. He walked for the fourth consecutive time and stole second. Thomas Smart hit a ball to shortstop and the Cougars tried to cut down Ota at third base with one out, but the throw ricocheted off his helmet and caromed away, allowing him to score.
How It Happened – Game 2
  • UIC also took the lead in the second game with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Smart walked to open the frame and Dominic Smith reached on a CSU error. Another error allowed Smart to score from second base and Alex Dee drove in Smith on a sacrifice fly to left field to help the Flames go in front, 2-0.
  • Chicago State retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the third and three more in the bottom of the fourth to put UIC in a hole.
  • UIC reliever Fred Gosbeth held the Cougars in check in the fifth and sixth innings, turning it over to the offense to respond in the top of the seventh. Dee doubled with one and he moved to third when Bottcher rifled a base hit to right-center field. Papapietro sliced a ball to left-center field that tailed away from the outstretched glove of CSU left fielder Jon Coss III that allowed both runners to score and put him on third base with a triple. After Ota walked the Cougars made a pitching change and Yunis Halim struck out Smart to stop the threat.
  • Chicago State added another insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to dictate the final margin.
Notable
  • Jacob Key has not issued a walk in three consecutive starts against Texas A&M, SIUE and Chicago State and he has thrown two complete games and 23.1 IP. He last issued a base on balls at Georgia Tech on opening day in the fifth inning.
  • The junior has a 7.3 K-to-BB ratio on the year.
  • Key has made thrown two straight complete games, but Friday's was the first that went a full 9.0 innings. He threw all 7.2 IP of UIC's shortened game at SIUE on March 1.
  • Matt Bottcher went 5-for-10 during the doubleheader and scored a team-high three runs.
  • Scott Ota did not have an official at-bat in game one, but he scored two of the team's five runs. The senior walked in all four of his plate appearances. He also walked two more times in the nightcap.
On Deck
  • UIC and Chicago State will not play on Saturday or Sunday due to the poor forecast in Chicago.
  • The Flames also announced they will not travel to Iowa on Tuesday due to unplayable conditions. Head coach Mike Dee is working to secure a home game at Granderson Stadium instead.
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