NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 21, 2024) – The UIC baseball team (13-6, 0-0 MVC) opens Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, as it travels down to Tennessee for a three-game series against Belmont (11-10, 0-0 MVC).
 
FLAMES FACTS

• The Flames enter the weekend series riding a three-game winning streak, most recently defeating Purdue Wednesday night on the road in 14 innings. The game was the longest in terms of time and innings in the 11-year history of Alexander Field in Lafayette, Ind.
• UIC continues to rank at the top of the Missouri Valley in terms of offensive prowess, boasting a league-leading .319 batting average as a team. The Flames also rank second in the league in on-base percentage (.426).
• The top three hitters in the MVC in terms of average all belong to the Flames, including Pambos Nicoloudes (.438), Jackson Bessette (.418), and Zane Zielinski (.413).
• The Flames will throw their standard weekend rotation against the Bruins, with Dillon Schueler, Brandon Bak, and Kendall Lyons taking the mound in the conference play opening series.

 
SCOUTING THE BRUINS

• The Bruins enter the series with an 11-10 overall record, but having lost three in a row entering the weekend. Most recently, Belmont dropped a 3-1 decision at cross-town rival #3 Vanderbilt Tuesday evening.
• Sam Slaughter leads the way for the Bruins offensively, hitting .333 in 19 games played with 14 RBI and two home runs.
• Belmont ranks fifth in the MVC in terms of team pitching, one spot ahead of the Flames, with a 6.05 team ERA.

 
Only one game of this weekend's series will be seen on ESPN+, the middle game of the series Saturday afternoon from E.S. Rose Park. Friday and Sunday's games can be heard free of charge on the Flames Network with AJ Schraffenberger calling all of the action from Nashville.
 
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).