CHICAGO – The UIC baseball team closed out its three-game series against Missouri State Saturday, as the final two games of the series were combined into a double-header due to forecasted inclement weather in Chicago Sunday.
 
GAME 1

• The Bears opened the scoring in game one Saturday afternoon, as Missouri Valley Conference total bases leader Spencer Nivens smashed a three-run home run to right-center field in the first inning to give Missouri State the early 3-0 advantage.
• Charlie Szykowny immediately answered back for the Flames in the home half of the first inning, belting his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot to right to cut the deficit to 3-1.
• Missouri State erupted for six runs in the second inning, thanks in part to two two-RBI singles, an RBI groundout, and an RBI single from Zack Stewart to put the Bears ahead 9-1.
• After the Bears added on another three runs in the third and three in the fourth, the Flames chipped back for a run in the fourth on a Breck Nowik RBI single and another run on a Szykowny RBI double in the fifth, bringing the score to 15-3.
• The Flames would surrender three more runs to Missouri State in the top of the seventh inning and were unable to plate a run in the bottom of the seventh, dropping the first game of the double-header 19-3 in seven innings.

 
GAME 2

• For the first time in the three-game series, the Flames took a lead to begin game two of the double-header Saturday, as Charlie Szykowny launched his second home run of the day, a three-run shot down the right field line to give UIC the 3-0 advantage.
• The lead was short-lived, however, as the Bears answered with a three-run home run of their own to tie the game in the fourth and added a two-run home run from Carter Bergman to close the fourth with a 5-3 advantage.
• The Bears hung another crooked number in the top of the fifth, as a Stewart grand slam and another Bergman home run extended their lead to 11-3.
• A Cody Kelly solo home run in the Bears' half of the ninth inning would be more than enough for a solid Missouri State bullpen, who worked four innings on the night, surrendering just three runs, all in the ninth inning, to earn a 12-6 win in game two to sweep the series.

The Flames will return to action on Tuesday, as they continue their non-conference schedule against Iowa to close out their four-game home-stand. First pitch from Curtis Granderson Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. CT. UIC will continue Missouri Valley Conference play next weekend, as it heads to nearby Valparaiso for a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. CT. All four of next week's games can be heard live on the Flames Network free of charge, via the links on the baseball schedule page.