CARBONDALE, Ill. – The UIC baseball team (8-11, 0-3 MVC) closed out its first-ever Missouri Valley Conference series Sunday, as it faced off against reigning MVC champions Southern Illinois (12-12, 3-0 MVC) for the final time in the regular season.
- Much like game two of Saturday's double-header, Sunday's series finale started off as a pitching and defensive dual.
- After cruising through the first two plus innings, the Salukis finally broke through against Flames starter Ryan Karst, namely through a Matt Schark three-run home run that chased Karst from the game in the third inning trailing 3-0.
- The Flames would answer back quickly after Tyler Ingram got them out of the bottom of the third, as Rayth Petersen smashed an RBI double to right-center field to bring the score to 3-1, Petersen's eighth RBI of the season.
- The Flames took the lead in the top of the fifth inning, as Charlie Szykowny launched a three-run home run to right center field, his fourth of the season to give UIC a 4-3 lead.
- The Salukis re-gained the lead in the home half of the seventh inning on back-to-back-to back home runs, going on top 8-4. SIU would go on to hit five total home runs in the 10-run seventh inning, jumping ahead for good at 13-4.
- James Harris would score the game's final run, getting his first hit of the season as a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, bringing the final score to 13-5.
The Flames will return home to begin a five-game homestand in the span of seven days, beginning with a Tuesday night matchup against Western Illinois at Curtis Granderson Stadium. UIC will return to Missouri Valley Conference play on Friday as it opens a three-game set against Indiana State.
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