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Another Crucial MVC Series Awaits Baseball This Weekend

Flames Travel to Illinois State After Closing Home Stand Against Purdue

5/9/2023 4:52:00 PM

CHICAGO – The UIC baseball team (22-21, 9-12 MVC) will close out its eight-game home stand Tuesday, as it hosts Purdue (23-23, 10-8 B1G) before heading back out on the road in its return to Missouri Valley Conference play for a three-game series against Illinois State (18-26, 7-14 MVC). The Flames have won five of seven games on their current home stand and used a weekend sweep to climb to sole possession of sixth place in the MVC standings with just two weekend series' remaining.
 
SCOUTING PURDUE
  • The Flames and Boilermakers will meet for the second time this season on Wednesday night at Granderson Stadium, as the Flames will look for the series sweep. UIC defeated Purdue at Alexander Field on March 21 by a 6-4 final score, a dramatic come-back victory in which the Flames scored four runs in the top of the ninth to earn the win.
  • The Boilermakers come into the week with a 23-23 overall record on the season, and a 10-8 mark in Big Ten play. Prior to a weekend non-conference series against South Dakota State, Purdue took two out of three from Big Ten foe Rutgers in West Lafayette, Ind.
  • The dynamic duo of Jake Parr and Paul Toetz pace the Purdue offense, a unit that has a .279 team batting average on the year. Parr and Toetz have combined for 79 RBI on the year, and Toetz leads the team with nine home runs.
 
SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE
  • The Redbirds and Flames will match up for the 42nd time in series history this weekend, but the first time since UIC joined the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds hold a 29-12 all-time advantage on the Flames.
  • Illinois State will have its focus squarely on the Flames this weekend, as it currently sits just four games back of UIC in the standings, occupying the eighth and final playoff position. The Redbirds' 18-26 record includes a 7-14 mark in MVC play, as well as a 6-10 record at Duffy Bass Field this year.
  • Auggie Rasmussen leads the way for the Illinois State offense, as his .316 average is just one of two on the roster over the .300 mark. Daniel Pacella owns the other average above .300 (.308) and leads the team in home runs (13) and RBI (46).
 
FLAMES FACTS
  • The Flames are finding their rhythm at the right time of the year, as they enter the week as winners of seven of their last nine games. UIC completed a weekend sweep of Belmont on Sunday, the first-ever series sweep for the Flames as members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
  • The Flames have used a balanced offensive attack to bolster their success this season, as the team batting average has steadily climbed up to .270 entering the week. Charlie Szykowny has continuously led the way on offense for UIC this season, as he leads the roster in home runs (14), RBI (48), and total bases (118).
 


 
 
Wednesday night's game against Purdue will be streamed live on ESPN+, and heard live on the Flames Network free of charge with the Voice of the Flames Jonathan Hood. Friday through Sunday's games are not currently scheduled to be broadcasted, but live stats will be available at UICFlames.com.
 
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