TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – After qualifying for the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in its first season as a member of the conference, the UIC baseball team is set to open post-season play on Tuesday. The Flames earned the number six seed overall and will take on the number seven seed Belmont on Tuesday afternoon at Bob Warn Field in Terre Haute.
 
SCOUTING BELMONT

• The Flames and Bruins will meet for the fourth time this season, as the two met for a three-game series at the beginning of May in Chicago. The Flames swept the Bruins convincingly, with just one of the three games being decided by fewer than five runs. With the three victories, the Flames took control of the all-time series, currently leading 6-5.
• The Bruins finished the season with a 10-17 record in Missouri Valley Conference play, most recently taking two of three games from Bradley to lock down the number seven overall seed. Like the Flames, the Bruins will enter the tournament on a loss, as they dropped the regular season finale by a 4-3 final score to the Braves.
• Offense has been hard to come by for the Bruins this season, as Belmont ranks last in the MVC in batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. Lacking any one hitter over a .300 season average, Mason Landers has lead the way for the Bruins this season, as he ranks first on the roster in almost every offensive category. Dominic Barrata made 12 starts for the Bruins, and leads the team in wins with four.

 
FLAMES FACTS

• The Flames enter post-season play after a very successful first season as members of the Missouri Valley Conference, earning a berth to their first-ever Missouri Valley Baseball Championship. UIC posted a 27-23 overall record, including a 13-14 mark in conference play.
• The Flames have won 12 of their last 16 games, including eight of their last ten to close the regular season.
• UIC's offense has been a strength throughout the 2023 season, as it ranks fourth in the Missouri Valley in runs scored with 349. The Flames also rank second in on-base percentage at .384.
• Balance has been a key all season, as the Flames also boast one of the league and nation's best defenses, ranking in the top 25 in the NCAA in fielding percentage, and the top six in double plays turned per game.
• The pitching staff has also found its stride at the close of the season, as they have allowed three or fewer runs in six of the last seven games.

 
First pitch Tuesday afternoon is set for 1:30 p.m. CT from Bob Warn Field. Each game in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship can be seen live on ESPN+, and live stats are available at the link on the schedule page at UICFlames.com. Follow @UIC_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and content from Terre Haute this week.