SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UIC struck first in the series finale against UC Santa Barbara but were unable to maintain the momentum, dropping a 15-1 decision to the Gauchos.
 
Matt Bottcher and Nick Lopez registered hits for the Flames in the first inning, with Bottcher coming around to score on a Gaucho error. UC Santa Barbara rallied to take a 4-1 lead in the fifth before putting the game out of reach with an eight-run seventh inning.
 
UIC returns home for its home opener against in-state foe Northwestern on Tuesday, March 3. First pitch from Curtis Granderson Stadium is slated for 4:05 p.m.
 
How it Happened

• Bottcher and Lopez singled for the Flames in the top of the first to put two on with one out before Joshua Figueroa added a two out walk to load the bases. An error by the second baseman off the bat of Sean Dee gave the Flames the 1-0 lead.
• The Flames would maintain its one-run advantage until the third when the Gauchos took a 2-1 lead on an RBI groundout and a solo shot down the left field line.
• UC Santa Barbara added single runs in the fourth and fifth to build its advantage to 4-1 before running away with the game thanks to an eight-run seventh inning and a three-run eighth.

 
News and Notes

• With his walk in the first, Figueroa extended his on-base streak to five games.
• Nick Oliff struck out three batters in his 4.2 innings of work.