PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley Baseball dropped the first game of their final homestand on Thursday to the UIC Flames, 8-3.

A Slow Start

The Flames opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run shot to left field. They added another run in the third with another home run to make it 3-0. The Braves responded in the bottom half of the third with an Angelo Aleman solo homer to cut the deficit to 3-1.

UIC regained control in the fourth with a bases-loaded walk and a three-RBI double to extend the lead to 7-1. Bradley answered in the fifth on Michael Quick's RBI single. The Flames added one final insurance run in the top of the ninth with an RBI single to center field. The Braves' rally in the ninth produced only one run on Landon Lowe's sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 8-3.

Standout Performances for Bradley

Aleman had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored. Quick hit 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, extending his hitting streak to five games while going 11-for-22 over that span.

Hayden Miller also had a solid day at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and a hit-by-pitch. Luke Skinner was the only other Brave with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5.

On the Mound

Joey Cirelli made the start for the Braves, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing six runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two. He took his sixth loss of the season. Gavin Thompson relieved Cirelli and pitched 4.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits and a walk while striking out two.

Drew Politte pitched the final inning, allowing one run on two hits while walking one.

Standout Performances for UIC

On the mound, Mason Lei earned his seventh win of the season, pitching six innings, yielding two runs on nine hits while striking out six. Offensively, Ashton Kampa hit 2-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI, and one walk.

By the Numbers

Bradley: 3 runs, 10 hits, 0 errors

UIC: 8 runs, 12 hits, 1 error