YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Ryan Nagelbach drove in three runs and hit his sixth home run of the season Thursday as the UIC baseball team dropped a 6-4 decision in the series opener to Youngstown State.
 
Nagelbach drove in a pair in the first inning with a two-run single and added a solo shot in the third, helping the Flames build a 4-0 lead. Youngstown State chipped away late, scoring the final six runs to take the opener.
 
A base hit and two Penguin errors loaded the bases with one out in the first. Nagelbach delivered a single to center, allowing Ryan Lin-Peistrup and Bryan Rosario to score. Rayth Petersen followed one batter later with another single to center to plate Breck Nowik and push the lead to 3-0.
 
UIC's advantage grew to 4-0 in the third when Nagelbach blasted his sixth homer of the year to lead off the inning.
 
Youngstown State got on the board in the fifth with a trio of runs to trim UIC's lead down to one and would tie things up at 4-all with a solo home run.
 
The Flames looked to take the lead after loading the bases with one out in the eighth, but Youngstown State was able to work out of the jam. The Penguins took the momentum into the home half of the eighth, plating a pair of runs to take the decisive 6-4 lead.
 
UIC got the tying run to the plate with two outs but a strikeout would end the contest.
 
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for a 10 a.m. (CT) start Friday morning.