CHICAGO – A six-run seventh inning sent the UIC baseball team past Augustana, 6-4, Wednesday evening at Curtis Granderson Stadium.
 
Trailing 2-0 headed into the bottom of the seventh, the UIC offense erupted for six runs on four hit and was helped out by a pair of Augustana errors.
 
Matt Bottcher, Garrett McCarthy and Ryan Lin-Peistrup all had two hits while Bottcher and Lin-Peistrup each drove in a pair of runners. Joey Morris pitched the final inning and a third to pick up his second save of the year.
 
Due to the threat of inclement weather, UIC's Horizon League opening weekend home series against Oakland has been altered. The Flames and Grizzlies will now play a doubleheader on Friday, with first pitch of the first game slated for 12:05 p.m. The teams will have an off-day Saturday before concluding on Sunday. Game time on Sunday will remain at 12:05 p.m.
 
How it Happened

• UIC looked to capitalize in the bottom of the first, as Bottcher led off the game with a double to right center. The catcher was gunned down trying to steal third, ending the Flames' threat to strike first.
• Augustana broke the 0-0 tie in the fourth inning as the Vikings led off with a double and a walk. A sac bunt moved the runners into scoring position before an RBI groundout gave the visitors the 1-0 lead.
• The Vikings added a second run in the top of the seventh with an RBI double to drive the runner home from second.
• The Flames's offense woke up in the bottom half of the seventh, with the first five batters all reaching base. A walk, single and Augustana error loaded the bases with nobody out, setting the stage for Lin-Peistrup to rip a double to left and drive home a pair. Bottcher followed and immediately cranked a double to right to bring home two more and put the Flames up 4-1.
• Bottcher eventually came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 5-2 Flames. With runners on first and second, an RBI single through the right side by Thomas Norton allowed Ben Tharp to come around and score from second to push the advantage to 6-2.
• Augustana fought back in the eighth, plating a pair of runners to cut the UIC lead to two at 6-4. The Vikings then loaded the bases with two away, prompting Morris to enter the game. With the count full, Morris struck out Griffen Pschigoda to end Augustana's comeback attempt.
• Morris remained on to work the ninth and struck out a pair of hitters while retiring the side in order to seal the UIC victory.

News and Notes

• Wednesday was the first multi-RBI game for Lin-Peistrup this season and second on the year for Bottcher.
• UIC's pitchers struck out 13 batters Wednesday, one shy of the team's season high.
• Mark McCabe, the reigning Horizon League Pitcher of the Week worked an inning of relief to earn his second consecutive win.
• Bottcher has now reached base safely in seven consecutive games while Trey Beckman extended his streak to six-straight.