CHICAGO – The UIC pitching staff dominated the action Saturday (April 17), helping the Flames secure a doubleheader sweep of visiting Purdue Fort Wayne.
 
The tandem of Ryan O'Reilly and Joey Morris combined to allow just three hits in Game 1 of the doubleheader, as the Flame shut out the Mastodons, 2-0. In Game 2 of the twin bill, it was the duo of Chris Torres and Fred Gosbeth combining to allow just a pair of runs on two hits in the 4-2 victory.
 
UIC enters Sunday's series finale at 13-15 overall and 12-10 in conference while the Mastodons are 9-17 (6-13).
 
Game 1 Recap
UIC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, proving to be all the offense the team would need in the opener. Cole Conn singled to center and moved to second on the sacrifice bunt by Ryan Nagelbach. A groundout sent the freshman over to third and came in to score on the Cory Moore RBI single.
 
The Flames tacked on an insurance run with a run in the third behind a trio of hits. With one away, Bryan Rosario reached on a bunt single and advanced all the way to third on a single by Matt Bottcher. With runners on second and third, Joshua Figueroa singled to right to drive home Rosario and push the advantage to 2-0.
 
O'Reilly was dealing on the mound, as the Mastodons didn't record their first hit until the fourth inning. That would be the best scoring threat for the 'Dons, as the visitors had runners on first and second with nobody out. Purdue Fort Wayne looked to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Figueroa was able to get the lead runner at third for the first out. O'Reilly then got the ground ball to start the 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
 
The Mastodons had another first and second, one away situation, but a second double play turned, this time a 4-6-3 turn, ended a potential threat in the sixth. Morris came on to close out the game, giving up a one-out single before the third double play of the game for UIC ended the contest.
 
Game 2 Recap
Purdue Fort Wayne took a 2-0 lead early in the second game with runs in the first and second, despite Torres only allowing one hit.
 
UIC quickly jumped in front, 3-2, in the bottom of the third behind a three-run shot from Conn. Bottcher singled up the middle, stole second and moved to third on an error before Figueroa walked. With runners on the corners, Conn connected on his second home run of the season to put the Flames ahead.
 
Torres allowed a walk and a hit by pitch from the third through the sixth before the Mastodons got a pair of runners on with one away in the seventh. Gosbeth came on in relief and worked out of the jam to keep the Flames in front by a run.
 
UIC picked up an insurance run in the bottom half of the seventh, with Figueroa connecting on his second long ball of the season to give the Flames an insurance run at 4-2.
 
Gosbeth stranded a pair of runners in the eighth and ninth to complete the five-out save.