From University of Chicago Athletics
Another late-inning outburst secured a 16-10 win for the University of Chicago baseball team against Elmhurst College on Tuesday.
The Maroons improved to 10-15 and the Bluejays dropped to 10-21.
The two sides exchanged run-scoring singles in the second inning. Senior outfielder Edward Akers got UChicago on the board with a two-out knock up the middle. Junior catcher Kevin Tully put the visitors back ahead 2-1 in the top of the third inning with a RBI single that drove in senior third baseman Kyle Engel, who led off with his team-leading 16th double of the season. Once again, Elmhurst answered back in the bottom of the third with runs on a fielder's choice and a single.
The Maroons kept at it offensively and plated two in the fourth to go up 4-3. Sophomore shortstop Ryan Krob singled up the middle for one and Engel struck a sacrifice fly to right field for the other. The fifth inning proved fruitful as well. Sophomore first baseman Thomas Prescott singled to start the frame, moved to third base on two wild pitches, and then scored on a balk to make it 5-3.
Elmhurst brought the see-sawing momentum back a bit in the bottom of the fifth by loading the bases and scoring once on a sacrifice fly. However, UChicago did not slow down with its hot bats. Engel singled to left and senior designated hitter William Katzka doubled to left center in the sixth, increasing the lead to 7-4.
The Bluejays answered back and drew to within 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh with a single and double that drove in runs. UChicago put the result out of reach by blasting its way through the eighth inning, scoring nine runs on five hits with three Elmhurst errors. The initial run scored on a wild pitch strikeout and the next score came on an error. Freshman outfielder Max Larsen doubled down the left field line to drive in two and then scored on a fielding miscue. Engel capped the big inning with a three-run homer to center field.
Elmhurst tallied two runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to account for the final score of 16-10.
The Maroons smacked a season-high 19 hits while committing three errors. Six different players finished with multiple hits on the day. Engel led the way by going 4-for-5 with one home run and five RBI. Akers hit 4-for-6 with one RBI, and sophomore outfielder Nicholas Toomey was 3-for-5 out of the lead-off spot. Katzka, Krob and Prescott all had two hits each.
Senior pitcher Andrew VanWazer (2-2) went the distance on the mound, tossing a nine-inning complete game. Six of the runs were earned on 14 hits as VanWazer struck out six and walked three. The effort was UChicago's eighth complete game of the season.