CHICAGO -- The UIC baseball hits the road for its first midweek game of the season on Wednesday, March 23, as the Flames travel to take on future Missouri Valley foe in Illinois State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Duffy Bass Field.

FIRST PITCH
• The Flames made their home debut this past weekend after 13 consecutive road games to start the season, splitting a doubleheader with Northern Kentucky in the first Horizon League series of the year.
• The Flames' defense has been stellar all year, ranking first in the Horizon League with a .972 fielding percentage. 

SMALL BALL
• UIC is one of the best teams in the Horizon League in manufacturing runs, as the Flames rank atop the League in sacrifice bunts and sacrifice flies.
• The Flames have recorded 16 sac bunts this year, eighth most in Division I baseball, and have driven home seven players via the sac fly, both tops in the Horizon League.

PETERSON DAZZLES IN UIC DEBUT
• Making his first collegiate start and his UIC debut, UIC lefty newcomer Nate Peterson dazzled for the Flames in the team's season opener against New Mexico State.
• Peterson pitched 7.0 innings of one-run ball, walking two while striking out a career-high 13 batters.
• The 13 strikeouts are tied for the sixth-most strikeouts in UIC single-game history, becoming the first Flame pitcher to fan 13 or more batters in a game since Ryan Zink against Saint Louis on March 7, 2004.
• Peterson kept the Aggies offense at bay, and was in line to earn the win before New Mexico State forced extra innings with a ninth-inning rally to end the day with the no-decision. UIC went on to win the contest, 8-3, in 10 innings.
• Through five starts this year, Peterson has 32 strikeouts, third in the Horizon League and 77th nationally. 

ON A STREAK
• Bryan Rosario has been a consistent presence atop the Flames lineup, having occupied the lead-off position in 10-of-15 games this year.
• Rosario reached base safely in the first nine games of the year, which was the longest streak on the team through the first four weekends of action.
• Ryan Nagelbach and Rayth Petersen now share the team lead for the longest active on-base streak, having safely reached base in each of the last 10 games.