ROCHESTER, Mich. – UIC's offense was on full display Saturday, as the Flames and Golden Grizzlies met for a doubleheader. The Flames jumped out early in Game 1, and never looked back, cruising to a 11-6 victory. UIC was cruising in the second game of the twin bill, leading 13-1 after seven innings when the game was suspended due to darkness. The two teams will finish up the contest Sunday morning before concluding the four-game series.
 
Game One
The Flames (5-11, 4-6 HL) scored in bunches, scoring multiple runs in three of the first four innings to jump out to a 9-0 lead.
 
UIC knocked Oakland (8-13, 2-8 HL) starter Hayden Nierman out of the game after just one inning of work as the Flames jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. After the first two batters were retired, UIC's offense went to work. Ryan Nagelbach and Matt Bottcher hit back-to-back singles before Cole Conn walked to load the bases. Cory Moore earned a free pass to drive home the first run for UIC and then Thomas Norton singled through the right side to drive in two more.
 
The Flames built the lead to 7-0 with four more runs in the second. With runners on the corners and one away, Bottcher singled up the middle to push the lead to 4-0. Conn followed with his second home run of the year, as his three-run shot to left drove in three to put the Flames comfortably in front of the Golden Grizzlies.
 
Two more runs came across in the top of the fourth to push the lead to 9-0. With the bases loaded, Bottcher lifted a sac fly to center to drive home Thomas Smart. Conn added his fourth RBI of the game with a fielder's choice, allowing Bryan Rosario to trot home from third.
 
After Oakland responded with three runs in the fifth, UIC countered with single runs in the sixth and seventh. UIC used some more two-out magic in the sixth as Ryan Nagelbach launched his first collegiate home run to left. Smart drove in the 11^th UIC run in the seventh, as his triple to right center allowed the pinch runner Brett Tressen to score from first.
 
With the Flames leading comfortably, 11-3, Oakland scored a trio of runs in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to close the gap any further.
 
Cristian Lopez earned the win, allowing three runs in six innings while walking one and striking out five batters. Conn finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBIs while Bottcher went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in.
 
Game Two
UIC was leading 13-1 after seven innings when the game was called due to darkness. The game will resume Sunday morning at approximately 11 a.m. (CT). A complete recap for Game 2 will be available Sunday.