PREVIEW: Illinois-Chicago at Bradley

PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — Illinois-Chicago visits Bradley on Thursday in a Missouri Valley Conference series opener at Dozer Park, with the Flames looking to build on a recent offensive surge against a Braves team that has struggled to a 10-43-1 record.

UIC (22-26-1) comes in having split its last six games, including a 7-6, 10-inning loss to Illinois State on Sunday. The Flames have won three of their last four series, powered by designated hitter Ashton Kampa, who is batting .400 over his last 10 games with five home runs and 14 RBIs.

Kampa, a senior, went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs in Sunday’s defeat. In a 10-2 win over Illinois State on May 8, he drove in two more runs. His hot streak includes a 5-for-5, three-homer performance against Milwaukee on May 6.

Bradley (10-43-1) has lost 10 of its last 12, though the Braves snapped a seven-game skid with a 5-4 win over Campbell on Sunday. Freshman right-hander Eli Lehrman pitched 4 2/3 innings in that victory, allowing two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Lehrman has a 4.91 ERA over his last three appearances, covering 8 innings, with nine strikeouts.

The Braves’ offense has been inconsistent, scoring five or more runs only twice in their last 10 games. Third baseman Luke Skinner drove in four runs on a homer in Sunday’s win.

The series continues with games Friday and Saturday at the same venue.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-2 UIC win.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT.