CHICAGO -- UIC welcomed the Milwaukee Panthers to Windy City and Granderson Stadium for a twinbill Friday afternoon. The Flames downed the Panthers 3-1 in Game 1 on the strength of a complete game on the bump from graduate student Jacob Key and a three-run home run on offense from second baseman Matt Bottcher. An eighth-inning RBI knock by freshman Ryan Nagelbach completed the sweep with a 1-0 victory in the nightcap as Cristian Lopez and Chris Torres combined for the shutout.
 
Game One – UIC 3, Milwaukee 1
UIC had the first scoring opportunity of the day in the bottom of the second inning, but did not capitalize. With two gone, Brett Tressen attempted to motor all the way from first home to gain an early lead on Cory Moore's single into the gap in left-center field. The Panthers executed a strong relay and a diving Tressen was cut down at the dish for the third out.
 
Milwaukee scored first in the top of the third inning without the benefit of a base hit. The Panthers coaxed a pair of one-out walks and moved a runner to third base on a fielder's choice. The visitors grabbed a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch from Key.
 
In the bottom of the frame, the Flames bounced back in a big way. Bryan Rosario rifled a single back up the middle before Thomas Smart drew a base on balls.The next batter, Bottcher, took the second pitch of his at-bat and deposited into Milwaukee's bullpen for an opposite-field blast.
 
The home run would be all the offense Key and the Flames would need the rest of the game as the Panthers would not get a runner into scoring position over the final four frames.
 
Key surrendered only two hits on one run in as he registered his first win of the season.
 
Game Two – UIC 1, Milwaukee 0
UIC looked to threaten in the first half of the nightcap, as Thomas Smart doubled down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the first. Smart would advance to third on a wild pitch but would be stranded there to end the threat.
 
A pitchers' duel ensued, with neither team having any real scoring opportunities until the seventh when Milwaukee look to take the lead. The first two batters reached base, setting the Panthers up with runners on second and third with nobody out. Lopez buckled down, striking out the next two batters before inducing a weak grounder to first to work out of the jam.
 
UIC took advantage of the shift in momentum, pushing across the only run of the game in the eighth inning. Smart led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a groundout by Thomas Norton. With two away, Joshua Figueroa was intentionally walked, brining the freshman Nagelbach to the plate. The freshman delivered a single to right, driving in Smart to put the Flames in front.
 
Torres, who came on in relief in the eighth inning, worked around a pair of hit batters in the ninth to earn his first win with the Flames.