WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The UIC baseball team erased a 9-0 deficit, scoring 10 unanswered runs over the final three innings to stun #16 Purdue, 10-9, on the road in midweek action.
 
The Flames offense came alive down the stretch, recording nine of their 13 hits on the day in the final three innings after being limited to just four hits through the first six innings of action. UIC also took advantage of timely hitting, as nine of UIC's 10 runs came with two outs.
 
UIC's win marked the program's first win over a ranked opponent since winning 2-of-3 games at then-No. 7 Vanderbilt Feb. 24-26, 2017.
 
Purdue jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and grew the lead to 9-0 following six innings of action. Despite scoring chances for UIC in the second, third and fourth innings, the Flames were unable to push a run across the plate until things began to turn in the seventh inning.
 
The Flames had a pair of timely swings in the top of the seventh as a pair of two-out hits scored a trio of runs to put UIC on the board. With the bases loaded and two away, Breck Nowik singled to the shortstop to score Ryan Nagelbach. Bobby Grimes followed with an RBI double up the middle to plate Luke Picchiotti and Adam Weed and make it 9-3 in favor of the Boilermakers.
 
Back-to-back baserunners opened the eighth for the Flames as Joshua Figueroa was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on the single by Clay Conn. Nagelbach lifted a sac fly to left, plating Figueroa and making it 9-4 in favor of the hosts.
 
With the bases loaded an two outs, the Flames were gifted a run as all runners advanced on a wild pitch to make it 9-5. Nowik recorded his second hit in as many innings, with his single to center plating a pair and suddenly turning what was once a 9-0 game into a 9-7 contest.
 
James Harris opened the ninth with a single and moved to second on Conn's walk. Adam Weed singled to left to load the bases with one out, setting the stage for Bryan Rosario's game-tying two-run single to left. The Flames weren't done there as the very next batter, Luke Picchiotti, gave UIC the 10-9 lead with a single to right, driving home Weed.
 
Matt Zahora came on in the ninth and word around a leadoff walk, retiring the next three batters to earn his first collegiate save and seal UIC's thrilling come-from-behind victory.
 
The Flames return to action this weekend, taking on Valparaiso in a three-game series. Game 1 will be played Friday on the campus of UIC while Games 2 and 3 will be played as a doubleheader Saturday at Valparaiso
 
News and Notes

• Tuesday marked the first time this year the Flames won a game when trailing after the sixth, seventh or eighth inning of action.
• The 10 runs scored by the Flames are a new season high.
• Rayth Petersen and Nagelbach extended their on-base streaks to 13 consecutive games.