CHICAGO – The UIC baseball team continued its crucial three-game series against Belmont Saturday, as the Flames began the day just a game behind Valparaiso for sixth place in the Missouri Valley Conference.
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- For the second time in as many days, the Flames jumped out to an early advantage, tagging the Bruins with two runs in the opening inning on a Rayth Petersen sacrifice fly and a Charlie Szykowny RBI triple, his third three-bagger of the year.
- UIC continued good situational hitting in the second inning, as Zane Zielinski scored Ryan Nagelbach on a groundout to second, and Cole Conn sent a sacrifice fly to right field to extend the Flames' lead to 4-0.
- The Bruins halved the Flames' advantage in the top of the third, as an RBI single and a sacrifice fly brought the score to 4-2 headed to the fourth inning. Belmont added a run in the fifth to cut the deficit to one with an RBI single to right field off the bat of Max Blessinger.
- Zak Gould made his 18th appearance of the season, entering the game in the sixth inning with a one-run lead. Gould was tremendous in relief of starting pitcher Kade Lancour, going three innings and allowing just two hits and no runs. Lancour earned the win after going five innings, improving his season record to 4-3. Reece Lawler earned his third save of the season, coming on in the ninth to set down the Bruins in order, and earn the Flames the 4-3 victory.Â
The two teams will wrap up their regular season series on Sunday afternoon at Curtis Granderson Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT. Fans who can't attend the game can watch on ESPN+ or listen free of charge on the Flames Network.
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