CHICAGO – UIC scored three of its four runs with two outs and limited the hot-hitting Milwaukee Panthers to two unearned runs on six hits en route to a 4-2 series-clinching victory.

The Flames (20-19, 13-9 Horizon League) led the entire way as they scored a run with two outs in the first, third and fourth innings and added an insurance tally in the bottom of the eighth. Four different players had an RBI in Saturday's win, while four different baserunners scored for UIC.

Joey Fredrickson posted another strong start for UIC by allowing just two unearned runs over 7.0 innings pitched. Sam Menegat pitched a perfect eighth inning and Alex Padilla took over in ninth and nailed down his fourth save of the season.

How It Happened

• UIC scored first for the second time in the series on Saturday. Scott Ota ignited a two-out rally with the first of three consecutive singles. Joshua Figueroa drove in Ota from second base with a knock of his own up the middle to give the Flames a 1-0 lead.
• Milwaukee nearly plated a run in the top of the third inning, but the UIC defense stepped up to shut it down. Matt Bottcher made a diving stop of a smash down the third-base line, but his throw to first sailed high. Matt Quartel started at first base on the play and he tried to score as the ball scooted up the line. Alex Dee got to it and fired home to Joshua Figueroa and the catcher tagged the diving runner to end the inning.
• The Flames turned the defense to offense in the bottom of the frame. Bottcher walked and found himself on third base with two outs after a wild pitch. Ryan Hampe flipped a base hit, his second in as many at-bats, to the opposite field in right to drive in a run and make it 2-0 in favor of the home team.
• UIC pushed across another two-out run in the bottom of the fourth. Sean Dee walked with two down and scampered home all the way from first base when Ryan Lin-Peistrup ripped a double to the gap in left-center field. His eighth two-bagger of the season gave the Flames a 3-0 advantage.
• The Panthers pushed across their first run in the top of the fifth. Tyler Bordner walked to begin the inning and he was on third base after a UIC throwing error. Mitch Buban hit into a double play, but Bordner scored to make it 3-1 in favor of the Flames.
• Milwaukee scratched out another unearned tally in the top of the seventh. The Panthers had the bases loaded with one out. Fredrickson got a soft line drive to Sean Dee at second base for the second out before the inning was extended and Bordner scored another run on UIC's fourth error of the game.
• UIC added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Chris Papapietro stroked a triple to left-center field to begin the inning and he scored when Ota ripped a line drive off the shortstop's glove to put the Flames in front, 4-2. Figueroa doubled with two down in the frame, but he was stranded at second when the inning ended.

Notable

• The win pulled the Flames into a tie for second place with Milwaukee. Both teams are 13-9 in Horizon League play.
• Joey Fredrickson has thrown 7.0 innings in both starts against Milwaukee this season. He was credited with the victory in both contests.
• Alex Padilla earned his first save since April 3 against Northwestern. It was his fourth save overall and his third in Horizon League play. The senior ranks second in program history with 22 saves.
• Reliever Sam Menegat has not allowed a run in last nine appearances out of the bullpen for UIC.
• Scott Ota is batting .588 with a team-high 10 hits in four games against Milwaukee in 2019. He has four extra-base hits and five RBI and the senior is slugging 1.176 against the Panthers this spring.
• Ryan Hampe and Joshua Figueroa joined Ota with multi-hit efforts Saturday. The pair each drove in a run and each has six RBI against Milwaukee this spring.
• Ota has reached base safely in 24 consecutive games.
• The Flames have outscored the Panthers, 43-13, in four games this season. UIC is batting .351 as a team in the contests with 18 extra-base hits, including three on Saturday.
• UIC has won 10 consecutive games against Milwaukee and 15 of the last 17 meetings against the Panthers.

On Deck

• The series will conclude on Sunday afternoon at 12:05 p.m.
• The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.