CHICAGO (Interstat) — Brandon Bak struck out 10 over 6 1/3 innings and Illinois-Chicago rallied for four runs in the seventh inning to beat Youngstown State 6-3 on Saturday afternoon at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium.

Bak allowed five hits and three earned runs while walking none in a no-decision for the Flames, who improved to 17-23 overall. The right-hander retired the side in order in the first, fourth and fifth innings and worked out of a jam in the third after giving up a leadoff single. Bak’s outing marked his second straight start with at least 10 strikeouts after he fanned three in a complete-game shutout of Valparaiso on April 18.

Youngstown State starter Jack Messmore was nearly untouchable through six innings, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh. The left-hander allowed no hits and struck out four over 6 1/3 innings but was charged with three earned runs after the Flames’ big rally. Messmore was lifted after a single and a double put runners at second and third in the seventh.

The Penguins struck first in the fifth inning. Garrett Cutting launched a two-run home run to left field, scoring James Carlson and giving Youngstown State a 2-0 lead. Cutting finished 1 for 4 with the homer and two RBIs.

Youngstown State extended the lead in the top of the seventh. Nic Goodwin singled to left and advanced to second on an error. After a strikeout, Carlson reached on a fielding error by Flames second baseman Jake Busson. Mark Eddie relieved Bak and walked Cutting to load the bases. Ryan Schummer then walked, forcing in Goodwin to make it 3-1. Alex Jang grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Illinois-Chicago answered immediately in the bottom half. Andrew Pyszka singled to right and Sean Cody followed with a single, bringing Bryce Palms into the game. James Hackett greeted Palms with an RBI single, scoring Pyszka. Vidal Colon walked to load the bases, and Karim Patterson singled to right field, driving in two runs. The ball was misplayed in right field, allowing Colon to score and giving the Flames a 4-3 lead. Patterson went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

The Flames added insurance in the eighth. Ashton Kampa homered to right field, his solo shot making it 5-3. Kampa finished 1 for 4 with the home run and an RBI.

Eddie worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out two to earn the win. Palms took the loss for Youngstown State, allowing two earned runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Gavin Acosta doubled and drove in a run for Illinois-Chicago in the third inning, cutting the Penguins’ lead to 2-1. Youngstown State had taken a 2-0 lead on Cutting’s home run in the fifth.

The Penguins, who dropped to 9-33, managed only five hits. Brady Shannon singled in the second, Alex Jang singled in the third, Carlson singled in the fifth, Goodwin singled in the seventh and Cutting homered. Youngstown State had won the series opener 10-7 on Friday but fell in the second game of the weekend set.

For Illinois-Chicago, Pyszka singled in the seventh and scored on Hackett’s hit. Cody also singled and scored. The Flames finished with six hits.

The game’s pivotal moment came in the bottom of the seventh when Illinois-Chicago sent nine batters to the plate, scoring four runs on three hits, a walk and an error to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Illinois-Chicago 6, Youngstown State 3, and the Interstat ELO system gave the Flames an 81.40 percent probability to win.