From University of Chicago Athletics
The University of Chicago baseball team began its 2015 campaign by sweeping a doubleheader at Blackburn College by scores of 4-3 and 2-0 on Saturday.
The Maroons ran their record to 2-0 and the Beavers dropped to 4-6.
Game One – UChicago 4, Blackburn 3
The Maroons scored in their second at-bat of the game when senior third baseman Andrew VanWazer banged a RBI double. Blackburn took the lead 2-1 in its half of the first inning on a RBI groundout and single.
Freshman outfielder Max Larsen put himself in scoring position in the second inning by drawing a walk and stealing second base. Sophomore outfielder Nicholas Toomey plated him with a single to center field to tie the game.
The hosts went back ahead in the bottom of the fourth with a run scoring on a groundout. UChicago tied the game once more in the sixth by scoring on a passed ball and eventually got the winning run on another passed ball in the top of the seventh. Junior pitcher Lucas Friss then slammed the door in the bottom half of the frame by sending the three batters down in order.
Friss (1-0) earned the complete-game victory by striking out seven in his seven innings of work. His pitching line included six hits, three runs and one walk.
UChicago was held to three hits and made one error. Toomey, VanWazer and senior designated hitter William Katzka all tallied one hit.
Game Two – UChicago 2, Blackburn 0
The second game of the day featured a dominant pitching effort from sophomore pitcher Thomas Prescott. The lefty kept the Beaver bats in check and hurled a seven-inning shutout. Blackburn had runners on second and third in the second inning, but Prescott struck out the next batter to end the threat.
Prescott got enough support with one run in the second inning and one run in the fourth inning. Senior outfielder Edward Akers drove in the initial score with a single and junior designated hitter Kevin Tullysmacked a solo home run.
UChicago ended up with seven hits and left nine runners on base. VanWazer and Tully stroked two hits each. Prescott (1-0) held Blackburn to three hits while striking out six and walking four.