CHICAGO – Despite another gem from Jacob Key, the UIC baseball team dropped its series opener to Youngstown State in a pitcher's duel of two of the top teams in the league.
 
Key finished with the tough-luck loss, despite throwing his team-leading fifth complete game of the year. The graduate student allowed one run on five hits, walking one and striking out six, while lowering his ERA to 2.11.
 
Youngstown State (23-17, 18-11) squeaked across the game's lone in the second inning. With a runner on second and one away, a fly ball to left center glanced off the glove of Bryan Rosario, allowing the runner to score on the RBI double.
 
The Flames looked to counter in the sixth inning after Rosario drew a one-out walk. The outfielder then advanced to second on the flyout from Matt Bottcher which was caught on the warning track. An infield single by Joshua Figueroa put runners on the corners with two away, but a groundout ended the UIC scoring threat.
 
Trailing by one heading into the bottom of the ninth, Figueroa singled with one-out looking to kick-start a UIC rally. Cole Conn hit into a fielder's choice, replacing the runner at first on the play. With two away, Conn stole second before Thomas Norton walked. Youngstown State closed the door on the final out, securing the series opening win.
 
Figueroa paced the Flames with a trio of hits Friday while Garrett McCarthy and Ryan Lin-Peistrup both recorded a hit.
 
The two teams will return to Granderson Stadium Saturday for a doubleheader which is slated to begin at 12 p.m.