CHICAGO -- In the first primetime matchup of the 2019 campaign, the UIC Flames will turn on the lights at Curtis Granderson Stadium on Wednesday night, when they welcome the Northwestern Wildcats to the near west side at 6:35 p.m.

UIC (10-11) has won three consecutive games after defeating Northern Illinois at home on March 26 and winning a pair of Horizon League games in a weather-shortened series at Milwaukee. During the streak the Flames are averaging 13.0 runs per game, while hitting .361 as a team with 17 extra-base hits. Senior Scott Ota was named Horizon League Batter of the Week on Monday after he batted .571 and slugged 1.071 with eight hits, nine runs, six RBI and three extra-base hits. Ota was one of two Flames to bat .571 over the three games as freshman Ryan Hampe did so as well. The newcomer has seven RBI in the last three games and he went 5-for-5 in UIC's 21-6 victory at Milwaukee on March 30.

On the mound the pitchers have posted a 3.33 ERA with 25 strikeouts and only seven walks over the last three games. Ryan O'Reilly has come out of the bullpen in two of the last three games and has allowed only one hit over his 2.2 IP. Fred Gosbeth pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of relief against NIU last Tuesday as he collected his first victory in a Flames uniform. Senior southpaw Braeden Toikka is scheduled to start on the mound against the Wildcats. He is 1-2 with a 5.85 ERA in five appearances (four starts) this spring. Toikka ranks third on the staff with 15 strikeouts.

Northwestern (11-13) has been just as hot as of late with five consecutive victories after dusting off Chicago State on Tuesday afternoon, 11-6. Jack Dunn, who picked up his 200^th career hit on Tuesday, is batting a team-high .393 for NU. He also leads the team with 18 RBI and eight stolen bases. As a team Northwestern is batting .266 on the season and it has 40 stolen bases in 49 attempts.

First-year pitcher Tommy D'Alise is slated to get the nod on the bump. He has five appearances this season, all in relief, and boasts a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 IP. Opponents are batting .281 against D'Alise.

The Flames have won six of the last seven games against Northwestern since the 2016 season and outscored the Wildcats 42-10 in that span. In four of the six wins, UIC as won by at least six runs.

For fans unable to make it to the ballpark, Wednesday's game will be streamed on ESPN+. Jonathan Hood will call all the action.