CHICAGO – Despite numerous scoring opportunities late in the game, UIC was unable to come back to defeat Milwaukee Sunday (March 14) afternoon, dropping a 5-4 decision in the series finale.
 
While eight of the nine runs scored came in the first two and a half innings, the second half of the game turned into a duel of pitchers working out of jams. UIC (3-7, 2-2) had bases loaded opportunities in both the fourth and sixth innings but were unable to convert, scratching across a run in the bottom of the ninth to pull within one of Milwaukee (2-9, 2-2).
 
UIC's bullpen pitched six and a third innings of scoreless relief, combing to allow just four hits while striking out five. The pen also did their job working out of a number of jams to keep the Flames within striking distance.
 
After Milwaukee struck first in the top of the second for a run, UIC answered with three in the bottom half of the frame. Joshua Figueroa and Brandon Gelpi reached to start the inning before moving up 90 feet on the sac bunt by Garrett McCarthy. Cory Moore's double drove in Figueroa before Sean Dee followed with a double of his own to drive in a pair.
 
The Panthers struck back with four runs on four hits in the top of the third to take the lead once again. Bobby Nicholson came on in relief of Tanner Shears to get the final out of the inning to leave a pair of Panthers stranded.
 
UIC had the bases loaded with one away in the fourth, but Milwaukee struck out the next two batters to retire the Flames and end the threat. The Flames tried to work a two-out rally in the sixth but were once again turned away. Dee singled to third to start the potential rally, followed by a walk from Thomas Smart and a Bryan Rosario single. The Panthers induced a fly ball to end UIC's opportunity in the sixth.
 
Ryan Lin-Peistrup ripped a one-out triple down the right field line in the ninth and came in to score on a groundout by Figueroa to pull UIC within one, but a strikeout would end the inning, and the game, in favor of the Panthers.
 
Dee and Lin-Peistrup led the way with two hits each, while Chris Torres led the way in the pen with three innings of two-hit ball to go along with a pair of strikeouts.
 
UIC remains at home next weekend, welcoming Wright State to town for a four-game series beginning on Friday, March 19.