Life in the Valley

UIC Rallies from 7-4 down to Shock Bears

Most often in postseason play, when you give up 6 runs in an inning, you’re probably doomed to defeat. UIC found itself in just such a situation during Tuesday afternoon’s opening game of the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. Except, for 5th-seeded UIC, the ending turned out to be a happy one.

The Flames (34-18) rallied for 5 runs in the 8th inning, 4 coming on a pinch-hit grand slam by Jack Snyder, to defeat the 8th-seed Missouri State Bears, 9-8, and advance to the winner’s bracket. UIC will play 2nd-seeded Murray State in the nightcap of a quartet of games Wednesday. The scheduled first pitch is 7:30 p.m. Central.

UIC actually got off to a good start, as well, as MVC Player of the Year Kendal Ewell hit a 2-run homer to center field in the 1st inning, his 21st of the season, to give the Flames a 2-0 lead after 1. But the whole game changed in the top of the 3rd, as Missouri State (23-33) put up 6 runs to take a 6-2 lead. After Cody Kelly hit a 2-run homer to tie the game, Dylan Leach drove in a run getting hit by a pitch, then Zack Stewart drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-2. Logan Chambers’ ground out scored Caden Bogenpohl, then Leach scored on a wild pitch.

Brandt Thompson went 7 innings for Missouri State, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts through 101 pitches. He was in position to get the win when he came out of the game, but the Bears bullpen couldn’t hold on. Down 7-4 in the 8th, UIC loaded the bases and then A.J. Taylor was hit by a pitch to make it 7-5. That brought up Snyder, pinch hitting for CF Garrett Kay, and his grand slam gave the Flames the lead for good.

Snyder, a junior from Manteno, Ill., had only appeared in 12 games prior to today. He was 3-for-14 in those appearances with 2 homers and 3 RBIs. But UIC head coach Sean McDermott rolled the dice on calling in Snyder to face Missouri State reliever Tyler Charlton, hoping he’d run into one, and run into one he did. Snyder’s slam made McDermott look like a genius.

After the 6-run 3rd, UIC relievers allowed just 2 runs on 2 hits over 7 innings, with 3 walks and 7 strikeouts. Ryan Smith worked the 9th for his 3rd save, while Presley Wachowiak got the win (2-3).

Nick Rodriguez (3-for-5) and Bogenpohl also homered for the Bears. It was Bogenpohl’s 20th of the season. Ryan Nagelbach also homered for UIC.

Missouri State will play Belmont at 12:30 p.m. Central Wednesday in the first elimination game of the tournament, the 2nd game of the day. Belmont took 2 out of 3 from the Bears when they met 2 weekends ago in Nashville.