CHICAGO (March 16, 2024) – The UIC baseball team (12-6, 0-0 MVC) closed out a three-game series with a double-header against SIUE (5-15, 0-0 OVC) Saturday afternoon, as the Flames looked to earn a series win despite dropping the series opener on Friday evening. Dominant pitching helped the Flames earn a win in game one of the double-header and UIC earned the series win with an offensive outburst in the second game, maintaining a perfect series record of 4-0 in three-game weekend tilts this season.
 
GAME 1

• After the Cougars took an early lead in the top of the first inning, the Flames answered back in the bottom of the second inning, as RBI singles from Pambos Nicoloudes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) and James Harris (Chicago, Ill./Gwendolyn Brooks) gave the Flames the 2-1 advantage.

 

B2

Pambus Nicoloudes ties the game for the Flames!

SIUE 1
UIC 1

Gm. 1 ESPN+ ?? https://t.co/MWO4x10B5J
Gm. 1 Live Stats ?? https://t.co/qGvyIU6sIC
Gm. 1 Flames Network ?? https://t.co/gxM5nQiqIe#FireUpFlames | #ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/dz9hVEh8jh

— UIC Baseball ???? (@UIC_Baseball) March 16, 2024

 

• Following two scoreless offensive innings for the Flames, Kendall Ewell (Calumet City, Ill/Kentucky) came to the plate with a runner on and launched a 464 missile over the batter's eye in center field, giving the Flames a 4-1 advantage after five innings.
• That would be more than enough for Flames starter Brandon Bak (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North), as the sophomore left-hander earned his second win of the season, going eight complete innings, striking out five and surrendering only one earned run.
• The Cougars would push across a run in the top of the ninth inning but would fall short as the Flames evened the series with a 4-2 victory.

 
GAME 2

• The second game of Saturday's double-header had a similar start to the opener, as the Cougars jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Just as they did in the first game, the Flames wasted no time striking back in game two, striking for five runs in the home half of the first inning, highlighted by Zane Zielinski (Chicago, Ill./Northeast CC)'s team-leading fourth home run of the season.
• After surrendering a pair of runs in the top of the second, UIC exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks in-part to the Flames' first grand slam of the season off the bat of Harris, extending the lead to 14-3.
• The Cougars would not go away easily in game two, as they struck for six runs between the fourth and fifth innings, pulling back within five runs at 14-9.
• AJ Henkle answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning, launching his third home run of the season to right field, running the score to 15-9.

 

B5

It's all smiles for AJ Henkle who adds to the scoreboard with a solo home run!

SIUE 9
UIC 15

Gm. 2 ESPN+ ?? https://t.co/uGvfeBHTd2
Gm. 2 Live Stats ?? https://t.co/xVGMloZaLo
Gm. 2 Flames Network ?? https://t.co/HZ2GUjklJ2 #FireUpFlames | #ChicagosCollegeTeam pic.twitter.com/Ew6JUHKJUK

— UIC Baseball ???? (@UIC_Baseball) March 16, 2024

 

• The Flames added three more runs in the home half of the fifth, bringing their advantage back to nine runs at 18-9. Ewell won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to bring home the 19^th run to institute the mercy rule at 19-9.

 
UP NEXT
The Flames will return to the road for the first time since March 3 this week, as they travel to Purdue for a mid-week contest Wednesday evening before opening Missouri Valley Conference play at Belmont next weekend. Wednesday's meeting with Purdue can be seen with a subscription on B1G+ or heard free of charge on the Flames Network with Jonathan Hood and AJ Schraffenberger on the call.
 
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).