CHICAGO – A four-run eighth inning lifted SIUE baseball to an 11-8 win in the opener of a three-game series at UIC.
The Cougars won their second game in a row and improved to 5-13. The loss was the first at home for UIC, which fell to 10-6. The Flames had won five straight before Friday.
The Cougars trailed 8-7 when they scored four times on three hits in the eighth. Gage Franck doubled to drive in a run. Zack Floyd drove in another with an infield hit before John Stallcup doubled to drive home two runs.
"It was a huge double by Johnny Stallcup to get us some insurance," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.
UIC took a 2-0 lead before the Cougars got on the board in the third thanks to a Chase Bloomer single and a throwing error.
The Flames had extended their lead to 4-1 when SIUE struck for three runs in the fourth. Franck drove home his first run of the day and Mize singled to plate two more runs to tie the score 4-4.
Ryan Niedzwiedz singled to score two runs in the sixth and Mize drove home another run in the seventh to push the SIUE lead to 7-6.
UIC's Zane Zielinski put the Flames on top with a two-run homer in the seventh to set up SIUE's comeback.
"This was a great team effort especially after falling behind early," Lyons said. "Our guys were able to battle. We were able to find a way to keep pushing runs across."
Mize led the SIUE charge with a 3-for-5 day at the plate and three RBIs. Gage and Bloomer each collected three hits. Gage drove home two runs as did Niedzwiedz and Stallcup.
Zeus Ponder (2-0) worked 3.1 innings in relief to earn the win. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out one.
"It was nice to get three-plus innings out of Ponder," Lyons said. "(UIC) had scored in each of the first four innings and he was able to put two zeroes up."
Ian Benner and Duncan McLaughlin each tossed a scoreless inning to finish the game. McLaughlin earned his second consecutive save striking out one in the ninth.
"We're starting to take shape with regards to guys coming out of the bullpen," Lyons added. "It's good to know Duncan is a guy we can trust to close it out."
Presley Wachowiak (0-1) allowed two of the runs in the eighth and was saddled with the loss.
AJ Henkle was 4-5 with a pair of RBIs for UIC. Zielinski finished with three hits and three RBIs.
Because of forecasted cold temperatures Sunday, SIUE and UIC will now finish the series with a doubleheader Saturday.
"UIC can really swing the bats," Lyons said. "We know they'll come out ready to play. It should be a good day."
