CHICAGO -- UIC will conclude its four-game homestand and the home-and-home series with the Illinois State Redbirds under the lights on Tuesday, April 16 at 6:05 p.m.

UIC (16-13) is in the midst of its longest winning streak of the season, a five-game surge that has seen the Flames average 11.2 runs per game against Youngstown State, Northern Illinois and Northern Kentucky. As a team, UIC is batting .381 with 22 extra-base hits (13 doubles, two triples, seven home runs) during the surge. Few, if any, players in the country are swinging the bat as well as the formidable duo in the middle of the lineup for the Flames.

Right fielder Scott Ota, who primarily bats third in the order, was named Horizon League Co-Batter of the Week on Monday. He batted .524 and collected 19 RBI and seven extra-base hits last week. On the season, his slugging percentage of .761 leads the Horizon League and ranks 10^th in the NCAA entering the week. He also leads the conference with a career-high 11 home runs and ranks third with 38 RBI. Nationally, the Foster City, Calif., native ranks 13^th with 1.31 RBI per contest. Overall, the senior is ranked inside the top-100 in nine different offensive categories. Ota has hit safely in 14 consecutive games and the last time he was held without a knock was at Illinois State on March 19.

Designated hitter Ryan Hampe, who has been inserted in the cleanup spot as of late, ranks third in the NCAA with a batting average of .453. Hampe's on-base percentage, .511, ranks second in the conference and 17^th in the country. In the last five games, the New Lenox, Ill., native is batting .619 with four doubles and 10 RBI in the last five games for the Flames.

Illinois State (21-14) arrives in Chicago with its own four-game winning streak in tow. Illinois State has won four games in a row, and eight of their last nine games.

ISU claimed the first meeting between the two clubs on March 19 at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Ill., 4-0. The Redbirds scored twice in the first inning and added single runs in the fourth and seventh innings. Thomas Smart and Hampe each had two hits to pace the Flames, while Joe Aelits had an RBI double and a solo home run to lead ISU's offensive attack that afternoon.

Tuesday's pitching matchup is the same as it was on March 19. Left-hander Braeden Toikka will get the nod for the Flames. In the first meeting, the senior allowed three earned runs on five hits over 5.0 IP. He walked one and struck out one. On the other side, right-hander Brett Wicklund will toe the rubber. Wicklund fired 6.0 scoreless innings and gave up three hits to the Flames last month. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Wicklund ranks fourth in the NCAA with 0.74 walks allowed per 9.0 IP.

For fans who cannot make it to Granderson Stadium on Tuesday night, the game will be carried on ESPN+. Jonathan Hood will be on the call.