DAYTON, Ohio – A three-run eighth inning for the Flames proved to be the difference maker Thursday, as the UIC baseball team came back to defeat league-leading Wright State, 8-6, in Game 1 of the three-game series.
 
Ryan Lin-Peistrup drove home a game-high three RBI while Breck Nowik tacked on a career-high three hits for the Flames. Joey Morris picked up the win in relief while Tanner Shears earned his third save in as many games with two innings of scoreless relief to close out the ballgame.
 
The Flames took advantage of a leadoff single by Lin-Peistrup to open the game and build an early 1-0 lead. Lin-Peistrup singled on the second pitch of the game and moved to second on the play following a Wright State throwing error. After the next two batters were retired, Nowik doubled to right center, allowing the shortstop to score from second and give the Flames the 1-0 lead.
 
The Raiders quickly pulled things even at 1-all with a run in the home half of the first before Nowik hit his team-leading fourth home run of the year, a solo shot, in the third inning to put the Flames back in front, 2-1.
 
Wright State took its first lead of the day at 3-2 in the home half of the fourth as two hits and an UIC error allowed a pair of runners to score. Another Raider run in the fifth made it 4-2 in favor of the hosts.
 
The back and forth battle leaned back to UIC in the sixth a clutch two-out hit by Lin-Peistrup. Ryan Nagelbach doubled with one out and Bobby Grimes drew a two-out walk. Wright State went to the bullpen and Lin-Peistrup welcomed the Raider reliver with a three-run blast to left to put UIC back in front by a 5-4 margin. The long ball was the first of the season and sixth of Lin-Peistrup's career.
 
Wright State responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to jump back in front, 6-5.
 
In the eighth inning it was UIC's turn once again to jump in front. With runners on second and third with one away, Rayth Petersen lifted a sac fly to left to score Lin-Peistrup and even the score at 6-all. Nowik was intentionally walked setting the stage for Cole Conn. The sophomore delivered with a double to left, plating a pair and giving the Flames the 8-6 advantage.
 
With the lead in hand, the Flames turned the ball over to Shears. The righty gave up a one-out single in the eighth but induced a double play to end the inning before working a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save in as many games to close out the 8-6 victory.
 
UIC turns its attention to Game 2 of the series, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on Friday.
 
News and Notes

• The eight runs scored by UIC are the most against a Horizon League opponent this season.
• Petersen extended his on-base streak to 21 games while Bryan Rosario pushed his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games.
• Lin-Peistrup became the second UIC player to drive home three or more runs in a game this year with his game-high 3 RBI.
• Nowik became the fourth different player to record a three-hit game this season. Rosario has done it four times while Conn and Nagelbach have each done it once.
• Morris picked up his first win of the season, working 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.