No. 2 Flames ready for league tournament

Jeff Boehm aims for third base versus Oakland Saturday. The Flames compete as the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Tournament this week in Wisconsin. Photo: Timothy Nguyen

The Flames have their eye on a championship this week, competing as the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Tournament.

UIC earned a first-round bye in the tournament, which starts today at Kapco Park in Mequon, Wisconsin. The Flames are slotted to play in Game 4 of the tournament at 3 p.m. Thursday against the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 match.

The team (24-25, 17-13 Horizon League) was limited to four hits Saturday afternoon in a 3-0 loss to Oakland (12-31, 7-17 Horizon League).

Charlie Weinberg, Mike Schoolcraft, Collin Weyer, Jacob McNamara, Alex Jurich and John Coen were honored Saturday as part of Senior Day.

“I can’t begin to express how proud I am of this group of seniors,” head coach Mike Dee said. “They have all shown tremendous leadership and great character this season. I know they will all be successful in whatever the future holds, but they will always have a home here at UIC.”

Weyer started the game with a scoreless inning before Jack Andersen (3-4) took over. Andersen allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings of work. He struck out three and walked one batter.

Alex Posey relieved Andersen in the seventh inning and allowed Oakland’s final run. Schoolcraft allowed two hits and retired two hitters in the eighth before Mitchel Schulewitz recorded four straight outs.

Coen, Jeff Boehm, Jake Nath and Mickey McDonald all recorded hits for UIC. Tyler Detmer reached base twice on a pair of walks.

UIC loaded the bases in the second and fourth innings but could not bring a runner home. Zenon Kolakowski struck out swinging to end the second and Conor Philbin hit into a double play to conclude the fourth.

Nath led off the eighth inning with a single through the right side but was removed from the bases after McNamara grounded into a double play. Coen followed with a single but Alex Lee struck out looking to end the inning.