The second day of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Championship delivered a decisive performance from the top‑seeded UIC Flames, who routed Southern Illinois 11‑1 in just seven innings.
Thomas Curry provided the offensive spark with a two‑run home run, while Mason Lei anchored the pitching staff by throwing a complete game that included eight strikeouts and allowed only a single run.
What’s Next for the Flames
UIC will now face the winner of the matchup between No. 2 Indiana State and No. 3 Murray State in the semifinal round, a contest that could determine the conference’s ultimate champion.
The game will be streamed live on The Valley’s ESPN and ESPN+ platforms, and fans can follow real‑time statistics at UICFlames.com.