CHICAGO – In his first season as skipper, UIC baseball head coach Sean McDermott has assembled a challenging non-conference slate that will test the Flames and prepare them for the rigors of Horizon League play.

The schedule features 12 games against five different opponents from Power 5 conferences, including three which will visit Granderson Stadium, the on campus home of Flames Baseball. UIC will lock horns with California (Feb. 25-26), 2021 NCAA Super Regional qualifier Arkansas (March 10-13), in addition to Big Ten opponents Purdue (March 29; April 19), Northwestern (April 5; May 3), and Iowa (May 17).

"UIC Baseball has a strong history of challenging ourselves against the best competition from coact to coast and this year's schedule is no exception," said UIC head coach Sean McDermott. "We look forward to taking the field this spring and matching up with some of the top baseball programs in America, visiting several unique and hostile environments. Those tests will prepare us well for the opponents we will see during Horizon League play and beyond."

The season opens Feb. 18, when UIC travels to New Mexico State to battle the Aggies for four games before continuing west to play a three-game set at Pac-12 stalwart Cal, Feb. 25-26. The Flames will be a bit closer to Chicago in Evansville, Ind., on March 4-5 for games against Ohio and Evansville.

UIC's final test before Horizon League play begins will be a four-game series at Arkansas, March 10-13. The Razorbacks won the SEC Tournament for the first time in program history earlier this year and entered the 2021 NCAA Tournament as the top overall national seed.

Horizon League play begins with a visit from Northern Kentucky (March 18-20) to start a stretch that has the Flames playing 11 of its next 16 games in front of the home crowd at Granderson Stadium between March 18 – April 10. The period also features conference sets against Milwaukee (March 25-27) and Oakland (April 8-10), and a visit from former Horizon League rival Valparaiso (April 1). UIC visits Illinois State (March 23), Purdue (March 29), Valpo (April 2) and Northwestern (April 5) during that span as well.

The Flames take on defending Horizon League champion Wright State for three games at their home park, April 14-16, before a return visit from the Boilermakers on April 19. It will be Purdue's first visit to the Windy City since April 1, 2014, when the Flames thumped the Boilermakers, 18-5.

UIC will make a quick trip to Milwaukee for a doubleheader on April 22 before coming back home to host a twin-bill against Wright State on April 24.

April ends and May begins with a three-game series at Purdue Fort Wayne, April 29 – May 1, before the Wildcats travel from Evanston to conclude the season series against Northwestern under the lights on May 3.

Following doubleheaders at NKU (May 7) and at home against Purdue Fort Wayne (May 8), the Flames host Youngstown State on May 13 for a Senior Day doubleheader. UIC then heads to Oakland for a pair against the Golden Grizzlies on May 15.
The home slate wraps with a visit from the Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday, May 17, before the regular season concludes with a three-game series at YSU, May 19-21.

The Horizon League Tournament is slated to take place May 25-28 at the site of the regular-season champion, with the winner gaining an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament, which opens on June 3 and concludes with the Men's College World Series in Omaha, Neb., June 17-27.

The Flames return 18 letterwinners this season including 12 position players and six pitchers. The group also features 2021 Horizon League Freshman of the Year Cole Conn, All-Horizon League First Team and All-Tournament Team honoree Bryan Rosario, and All-Horizon League Second Team selection Joshua Figueroa.

Fans can enjoy Flames Baseball all season long at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium, named for UIC Athletics Hall of Famer and Major League Baseball All-Star Curtis Granderson. Often referred to as the best backdrop in college baseball, featuring a breathtaking view of the famous Chicago skyline, UIC Baseball games are free of charge for all fans. For more information on Flames Baseball, call 312-413-UIC1 or visit UICFlames.com.