CHICAGO – UIC scored a season-high 18 runs on a season-best 20 hits Sunday (May 2) afternoon, as UIC defeated Youngstown State by an 18-7 margin on Senior Day.
 
Following the game, nine UIC student-athletes, Matt Bottcher, Alex Dee, Fred Gosbeth, Jacob Key, Bobby Nicholson, Thomas Norton, Ryan O'Reilly, Thomas Smart and Brett Tressen, were honored as the Flames (21-16, 20-11 HL) played their final regular season home game.
 
The Flames offense connected on a season-high six home runs, including a pair from freshman Cole Conn. With the game tied at 5 entering the bottom of the sixth, an eight-run inning for the Flames blew the game open while an additional five runs in the eighth sealed the series victory over the Penguins (23-20, 18-14 HL).
 
Conn set the table for what was to come for the UIC offense Sunday in the first inning, as his three-run shot to right center put the Flames on top 3-0 after an inning of play.
 
The Flames extended the lead to 4-0 in the third after a single by Bryan Rosario and a double from Bottcher put runners on second and third with one away. Joshua Figueroa roped a single to center, allowing Rosario to score.
 
UIC's advantage was pushed to 5-0 in the fourth with the second long ball of the day for the Flames as Cory Moore went the opposite way for a solo shot, his third of the season.
 
Youngstown State countered with five runs in the fifth to tie the game at 5-all thanks to a trio of home runs.
 
The lead wouldn't last for long, with UIC using an eight-run sixth to jump ahead 13-5. Conn connected on his second home run of the day to lead off the inning before Thomas Norton went back-to-back to make it 7-5 Flames.
 
Two-out magic was the key for the Flames in the inning, as the final six runs all came with two away. Rosario drove home two with a single up the middle, Joshue Figueroa hit a three-run homer to left center and Norton drove in a run with a single to left.
 
All told, UIC finished the inning with eight runs on seven hits while the Penguins were forced to use five pitchers in the frame.
 
After Youngstown State got a run back in the seventh, UIC added five more in the eighth to extend their cushion to 18-6. Ryan Naglebach delivered the big blast with a one-out grand slam, bringing Conn, Norton and Sean Dee home on the shot to right center. Figueroa kept the inning going with an RBI through the left side, driving home Brett Tressen.
 
The Penguins scored once in the ninth, but a strikeout by Joey Morris closed the game, and the series, in favor of UIC.
 
Tanner Shears came on in relief to secure the win, pitching 3.1 innings while only allowing one run on a single hit.
 
UIC goes out of conference next weekend, traveling to take on nationally ranked Texas Tech.