CHICAGO -- The UIC baseball returns to Granderson Stadium for its second consecutive home series in Horizon League play this weekend as the Flames welcome Milwaukee to town for a three-game series.

FIRST PITCH
• The Flames opened Horizon League play last weekend against Northern Kentucky. Weather forced the teams into a shortened two-game series, with UIC picking up a win in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Bryan Rosario's walk-off single in the 10th
• UIC's 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-16 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 11 games.