FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Behind a season-high 21 runs on a season-best 19 hits, the UIC baseball team completed a series sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne with a 21-5 victory Sunday afternoon.
 
The Flames scored in six of the nine innings Sunday, including a five-run third inning, a four-run fourth inning and putting an exclamation point on the game with a six-spot in the eighth. Nine different players recorded a hit in the contest, led by four from Rayth Petersen, including three doubles, and three from the duo of Breck Nowik and Cole Conn. Conn and Ryan Nagelbach drove in four runs apiece while Petersen, Bryan Rosario and Bobby Grimes added 3 RBI.
 
Despite the 21 runs scored, only two home runs were hit Sunday by the Flames. The two long balls both came in the fourth inning, with Grimes hitting a three-run shot to right center before Ryan Lin-Peistrup added a solo blast.
 
UIC scored in each of the first four innings Sunday, with two runs in each of the first two innings to put the Flames up 4-0. The visitors blew the game open with five in the third to make it 9-1. Following a single run from the 'Dons in the bottom of the third, the Flames scored for more in the fourth to make it 13-1. Purdue Fort Wayed added a run in the fourth and three in the fifth to get within eight at 13-5 but UIC's offense exploded for two runs in the seventh and six more in the eighth.
 
Sam Menegat made his return to the UIC rotation following an injury and started the game, striking out one in his lone inning of work. Cristian Lopez, Jeff Zack, Peter Newton and Alec Schuldt combined for eight innings out of the pen, with UIC's pitchers striking out 10 batters on the afternoon.
 
UIC returns home to face Northwestern in midweek action Tuesday evening. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.
 
News and Notes

• Nineteen different players saw action Sunday afternoon.
• The 21 runs and 19 hits are both season highs.
• UIC's seven doubles in the game are a new season best.
• Five different Flames were hit by a pitch, a new season high