Flames sweep Youngstown State in extra-inning win

The Flames look for their sixth win in a row tonight as they host Chicago State. The team won in extra innings Sunday, 6-5. Photo: Timothy Nguyen/UIC News

The baseball team (12-13, 7-5 Horizon League) won its fifth straight game Sunday after Mickey McDonald stole home in the 10th inning to send UIC to a 6-5 extra-inning victory over Youngstown State.

“We were looking to win the game right then and there,” head coach Mike Dee said. “I didn’t want the guys to keep playing inning after inning. There was never a losing attitude in the dugout today and I give our guys a lot of credit for keeping it positive.”

The Flames swept Youngstown State (4-20, 0-5 Horizon League) and improved to 29-1 against the Penguins at home. UIC defeated YSU, 12-2, Saturday and 12-6 Friday.

UIC is back in action tonight, hosting Chicago State at 6:05 p.m. at Curtis Granderson Stadium.

Alex Jurich led UIC with two hits, a home run and four RBIs Sunday. Jeff Boehm belted his third home run of the season. Alex Lee and McDonald both had two hits.

Jack Andersen started on the mound for the Flames and allowed three runs over seven innings. He struck out five Penguins and scattered eight hits. Mitchell Schulewitz allowed two unearned runs and three hits. Alex Posey (1-1) recorded one out in the 10th inning and picked up his first win of the season.

UIC loaded the bases in the first inning and Tyler Detmer scored on Jurich’s groundout. The Flames added another run in the third inning on Boehm’s solo shot over the fence.

Youngstown State tied the game in the fifth inning on a single and sacrifice fly before going ahead in the sixth on Mike Accardi’s RBI infield single. Jurich put UIC ahead 4-3 on a two-run round-tripper in the seventh inning, his team-high fifth home run of the season.

The Penguins responded with two runs in the top of the eighth following two hits and a UIC error. Jurich sent the game into extra innings when he singled home Detmer in the bottom of the ninth.

YSU put two runners on with two outs in the top of the tenth inning before Posey was able to escape by inducing a flyout. McDonald led off with a walk and Jacob McNamara drew a base on balls with one out. McDonald advanced to third on Detmer’s fly ball and Lee stepped up to the plate.

McNamara baited Kevin Yarabinec (0-1) and was called safe on a play at first base as McDonald stole home to send the Flames to the series sweep.