CHICAGO – The UIC baseball team was picked to finish second in the Horizon League this year, as the conference office announced Wednesday (Feb. 17) the preseason poll for the upcoming baseball season.
 
UIC placed second in the poll with 38 points, trailing Wright State who garnered 49 points and all seven first-place votes in the poll, as voted on by the league's coaches.
 
Following a COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, the Flames return an abundance of talent this season, including the 2019 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year in Jacob Key. The reigning Horizon League champions also welcome back Ryan Lin-Peistrup, Joshua Figueroa, Matt Bottcher, Thomas Smart, Alex Dee, Sean Dee, all starters on the Flames' 2019 NCAA Regional squad. Bullpen arms Sam Menegat, Fred Gosbeth and Mark McCabe also return from the 2019 program which reached its sixth regional in program history.
 
UIC is coming off a 4-12 record a season ago after opening the year with series against marquee programs like Auburn, Vanderbilt and UC Santa Barbara. McCabe was recognized as the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week last year on March 11 after throwing a complete-game in a 6-1 win over St. Bonaventure. The lefty allowed just two hits and one run while striking out four.
 
The Flames open the season Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19-20, taking on Florida International in a three-game series down in Miami.
 
2021 #HLBASE Preseason Poll
Pl.      Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1.        Wright State – 49 (7)
2.        UIC – 38
3.        Youngstown State – 34
4.        Milwaukee – 31
5.        Purdue Fort Wayne – 17
6.        Oakland – 14
7.        Northern Kentucky 13