Preview: Illinois-Chicago at Bradley

PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — Illinois-Chicago faces Bradley on Saturday evening in a Missouri Valley matchup at Dozer Park, with the Flames looking to build on a series-opening win while the Braves seek to snap a lengthy losing skid.

UIC (23-26-1) defeated Bradley 8-3 on Thursday and faces a Bradley team that owns a 10-44-1 record overall. The teams also played Friday, though no score was listed.

The Flames will likely send right-hander Mason Lei to the mound. Lei has been dominant of late, throwing six innings of two-hit ball with six strikeouts in Thursday’s win over Bradley. In his previous outing, a May 8 victory against Illinois State, he allowed six hits and no earned runs over seven innings. Lei also turned in a seven-inning, 11-strikeout performance in a loss at Evansville on May 1.

Bradley will counter with right-hander Gavin Thompson, who took the loss Thursday after allowing three hits and one earned run over 4⅔ innings. Thompson has struggled with command this season, posting an ERA above 8.00 and yielding eight earned runs in his last appearance against Illinois State on April 24.

The Braves have lost 15 of their last 17 games.

UIC’s offense is coming off an 11-hit showing Thursday, led by designated hitter Ashton Kampa, who drove in three runs on two hits. Jake Jakubowski added two scoreless innings in relief.

Bradley’s Angelo Aleman homered and drove in a run in Thursday’s loss, while Michael Quick contributed an RBI single.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-2 UIC victory, with the Flames holding a 68 percent win probability according to the site’s ELO system.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. The weather forecast calls for