Kyle Bloom was lights out on the mound for seven innings as he picked up his third win of the year in Illinois States 4-3 victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago in Chicago at Les Miller Field on Friday night. It was only the second time the Flames have been beat at home in 2004.
Bloom (3-5) went seven innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out eight. Kyle Zaleski picked up his fourth save of the year, as he pitched the final two innings.
Ryan Zink (5-3) took the loss for the Flames, as he went eight innings, allowing seven hits and four runs, while striking out six.
Illinois State (12-21) got on the board first in the game, as they picked up a run in the top of the second. Jeremy Pickrel led off the inning with a single, stole second and then moved up to third on a ground out. Luke Baughman then grounded out to the shortstop to score Pickrel and make it 1-0 Redbirds.
UIC (23-12) would score next, as Jordan Devior knocked in Mike Hughes in the bottom of the third to tie the score at one.
The Redbirds would break the 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth. With two outs and Nate Whitney at first, junior Chris Shepherd tripled to right-center bringing home Whitney and making it 2-1 Illinois State.
The Flames would take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh, when Nelson Gord hit a two-run, one-out home run to left-center to make it 3-2 UIC.
ISU responded in the top of the eighth, but not without some help from UIC, who would commit three errors in the inning. Nate Whitney led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on the play on a throwing error by the pitcher Zink. Shepherd followed with a sac bunt of his own, but UIC catcher Mike Bruszer tried to get Whitney at third and threw the ball into leftfield, allowing Whitney to come in to score and tie the game at three. Zink then tried to pick Shepherd off at first, but threw the ball over the first basemans head and Shepherd moved up to second. After being moved up to third, Shepherd would come in to score on a sac fly by Pickrel and give Illinois State a 4-3 lead.
Zaleski came on to pitch in the eighth inning and loaded up the bases with no outs. After striking out Bruszer for the first out of the inning, Zaleski got a double-play ball to get out of the inning.
The two teams will play the second game of their three game series on Saturday at Les Miller Field, with the first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. Josh Kauten will make the start for Illinois State.
