CHICAGO (March 14, 2024) – The UIC baseball team (10-5, 0-0 MVC) returns to action Friday, as it begins a three-game weekend series against SIUE (4-13, 0-0 OVC). This series represents the end of a seven-game home stand for the Flames, who will return to the road to begin Missouri Valley Conference play next weekend at Belmont.

FLAMES FACTS

• UIC enters the week on a five-game winning streak, dating back to a 7-3 triumph in the series finale at Ohio on March 3. The Flames toppled Milwaukee last Tuesday before earning a three-game series sweep, their first of the season, over St. Thomas last weekend at Curtis Granderson Stadium.
• The Flames currently rank second in the Missouri Valley Conference in team batting average at .309. Jackson Bessette (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) has paced UIC offensively this season, leading the MVC with a .450 mark in 14 games played. While being tied for the league lead with 27 hits, Bessette also ranks in the top five in on base percentage (.515) as well as slugging percentage (.683).
• Fielding has also been a strong suit for head coach Sean McDermott's guys this season, as the Flames rank 10^th in the nation with a .983 fielding percentage. Their nine errors in 15 games is the fewest in the MVC, three fewer than the next closest (Illinois State, 12).
• Program newcomer Dillon Schueler (Rock Falls, Ill./Sauk Valley CC) is set to make the start for the Flames in the series opener as he has all season, and he is currently tied for the league lead with three wins on the year. His 2.86 earned run average also ranks first among qualifying pitchers for the Flames and fifth in the MVC overall.
• Brandon Bak (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) leads the Flames in strikeouts on the mound this season and is set to start for UIC on Saturday afternoon. His 23 strikeouts rank fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference.

SCOUTING SIUE

• The Cougars will make the trip to Chicago this weekend after earning a 5-4 victory over Gonzaga Wednesday evening at home. SIUE used three home runs to earn a thrilling late-game win over the Bulldogs.
• SIUE boasts wins this season against Omaha, South Dakota State, and Troy. Lucas Spence leads the way offensively for the Cougars, posting a .397 batting average in 17 games this year. Spence led the Ohio Valley Conference coming into the week with a .382 average.

All three games this weekend can be seen live on ESPN+, and can be heard for free on the Flames Network. Admission is free to all Flames home games this season, and fans looking to escape the elements can purchase a single-game pass to the Granderson Stadium Club for $10.
 
GRANDERSON STADIUM CLUB
Positioned directly behind home plate with a panoramic view of the world-famous Chicago skyline, the Granderson Stadium Club offers one of the finest settings in all of college baseball. Fans can cheer on Chicago's College Team in style from padded seats in a climate-controlled environment while enjoying a wide selection of food and drink packages that include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
 
The Granderson Stadium Club is perfect for group outings of any size with an affordable rental fee of $500 per game. For more information and to reserve the Club for your next event, contact Brian Davis, UIC Assistant Athletics Director for Ticket Sales & Operations at (312) 996-5880 or briand@uic.edu. Fans can also fill out an online inquiry form through the official UIC athletics website, UICFlames.com, and they will be contacted by a ticketing representative to provide additional information and complete reservations.
 
On dates when the Granderson Stadium Club is not in use for a private event, individual single-game passes can be purchased for $10 each at the Granderson Stadium merchandise stand.
 
For more information on UIC Athletics and UIC baseball, visit UICFlames.com. Fans can also follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_Baseball and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_baseball and @uicflames).