CHICAGO – Behind Jacob Key's one-hitter, the UIC baseball team opened its series against Purdue Fort Wayne with a 1-0 victory Friday (April 16) afternoon at Granderson Stadium.
 
Key entered the ninth with a no-hitter, having surrendered a walk in the fourth and a batter to reach via error in the eighth. The graduate student retired the first two batters in the top of the ninth before the Mastodons' Arron Chapman legged out an infield single to break up the no-hit bid. Key promptly picked Chapman off to end the game and secure the win.
 
The Flames (11-15, 10-10 HL) had just three hits through the first six innings but were able to scratch across the game's only run in the seventh to take a 1-0 lead. Bryan Rosario singled to lead off the inning and promptly stole second, his third swipe of the game. Cory Moore laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Rosario to third and then Sean Dee's bloop single to right was lost in the sunlight, allowing Rosario to scamper home.
 
UIC looked to add insurance runs in the eighth after getting two runners on with one away. Rosario drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the threat.
 
Key threw 119 pitches in the complete-game, one-hit, performance, striking out a pair of batters and allowing the lone walk.
 
The Flames and Purdue Fort Wayne (9-15, 6-11) return to Granderson Stadium Saturday for a doubleheader. First pitch of Game 1 is slated for 12 p.m.