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UIC Athletics

thevalley
Ryan Smith
Steve Woltmann
2
Valparaiso VALPO 12-28, 4-13 MVC
3
Winner UIC Flames UIC 27-12, 11-6 MVC
Valparaiso VALPO
12-28, 4-13 MVC
2
Final
3
UIC Flames UIC
27-12, 11-6 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Valparaiso VALPO 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 0
UIC Flames UIC 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 6 0

W: Smith, Ryan (2-1) L: McCluskey, Griffin (1-4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | AJ Schraffenberger

Baseball Uses Clutch Hitting Late to Power Past Valparaiso

Flames Earn Comeback Victory Saturday, Secure Series Victory

CHICAGO (April 27, 2024) – The UIC baseball team (27-12, 11-6 MVC) resumed its three-game series against Valparaiso (12-28, 4-13 MVC) on Saturday, with the Flames looking to take a 2-0 series lead with their 11th Missouri Valley Conference victory this season. In a defensive affair with solid pitching on both sides, the Flames got clutch hitting late in the game, and earned the 3-2 victory. With the win Saturday, UIC secured its 11th win in conference play, a mark it didn't reach until May 13 of the 2023 season.

COACH'S COMMENTS

 
GAME SUMMARY
  • The teams traded zeroes for the first three full frames, including Flames starter Brandon Bak (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) striking out the side in the top of the second inning.
 

 
  • The Beacons got on the board first, plating two runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
  • The Flames finally scratched the board in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Jackson Bessette (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) launched his sixth home run of the season off the scoreboard in left-center field, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
 

 
  • Ryan Nagelbach provided the spark in the bottom of the eighth inning, driving home the eventual winning run with a two-RBI single up the middle past a drawn in infield, giving the Flames the 3-2 victory after three hitless innings tossed by Ryan Smith (Westchester, Ill./Nazareth Academy) in earning the win.
        
 
The Flames will look for their second MVC weekend series sweep on Sunday, as they will host the Beacons for the series finale. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT, and admission is free for all fans, with the game also being streamed live on ESPN+.
 
Fans are strongly encouraged to support NIL opportunities for UIC student-athletes through contributions to The Chicago Collective.
 
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).
 
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