From University of Chicago Athletics
The University of Chicago baseball team kept the pressure on offensively and came away with a pair of home victories over Illinois Institute of Technology, 11-3 and 10-6 on Saturday.
The Maroons evened their record at 16-16. The Scarlet Hawks fell to 21-9.
Former UChicago Head Baseball Coach Brian Baldea was honored between games for his coaching achievements over a 24-year career. Baldea, who currently serves as Associate Athletic Director, led the Maroons from 1991 through 2014 and finished as the winningest coach in program history with 411 career wins. He was recognized on the field and received a framed UChicago jersey from the team. Baldea also threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the start of game two.
Game One – UChicago 11, IIT 3
In the first inning, the two teams exchanged scores. IIT started off with RBI single up the middle, but UChicago answered with two in the bottom half, scoring on a passed ball and a RBI single from senior second baseman William Katzka.
The very next inning, the home team jumped all over the visitors. Two errors helped set the plate for a trio of unearned runs. A sacrifice bunt quickly turned into a throwing error to score one run. Senior third baseman Kyle Engel then added a two-run single to boost the lead to 5-1.
Lucas Friss was on the mound for the Maroons, and the junior was dealing from the start. The right hander jammed hitters inside consistently to force weak contact. UChicago's defense turned a pair of double plays behind him in the early going as well. Friss went to his big curveball as an out pitch and ended up striking out eight batters, including four looking.
UChicago's bats eventually chased IIT's starting pitcher in the bottom of the third inning when senior outfielder Edward Akers smacked a two-run double down the left field line. IIT got going with two RBI singles in the top of the fourth to make it 7-3. But Friss struck out the last two batters to strand two runners in scoring position.
Engel continued his hot hitting by jacking his 22nd double of the season to center field to drive in one in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore first baseman Thomas Prescottplated one with a groundout and a wild pitch pushed the score to 10-3. Sophomore shortstop Ryan Krob wrapped up the offensive attack with a RBI double off the left field fence in the bottom of the fifth.
UChicago totaled 10 hits and one error in the first game. Engel went 3-for-3 with three RBI, and freshman outfielder Max Larsen hit 2-for-4 at the dish.
Friss tossed all seven innings to get the win and improve his season record to 3-2. Along with his eight strikeouts, he allowed three runs, eight hits and one walk.
Game Two – UChicago 10, IIT 6
The Scarlet Hawks tallied the first two runs of the second game to jump ahead. IIT scored on a single in the first inning and on a dropped fly ball in the second inning.
UChicago quickly wiped out the advantage with four runs in the bottom half of the second. Katzka led off the proceedings with a triple that eluded the diving right fielder and bounced to the fence. Freshman designated hitter Michael Davis stroked a RBI single through the right side to score Katza. With two outs and the bases loaded, Krob singled through the infield for one run and Engel poked a two-run single to right center.
Larsen's RBI single through the right side in the third inning put the home side in control at 5-2. But IIT stayed persistent and tied the game in the fourth. The visitors tallied scores on a triple, wild pitch and double.
The big inning came around once again for UChicago in the fifth. Freshman second baseman Dean Christakes got the team off and running by drawing a walk and stealing both second and third base. On the latter steal, a throwing error by the catcher allowed Christakes to scamper home for the go-ahead run. The bases were loaded for outfielder Nicholas Toomey, and the sophomore calmly drew a RBI walk. The next hitter – Krob – was hit by a pitch to force in another runner and set up another opportunity for Engel. The senior delivered a two-run single and the Maroons led 10-5.
IIT tallied a bloop RBI single to right field in the seventh inning. But senior pitcher Simon Swanson closed out the game without any further damage to win 10-6.
The Maroons finished with 10 hits while committing three errors defensively. Engel was 2-for-4 with four RBI. Larsen went 2-for-2 with one RBI, and freshman catcher Matt Slodzinski hit 3-for-4 at the plate.
Prescott started the game and went four innings. The lefty totaled five runs (three earned), seven hits and one walk. Swanson (3-0) got the win in three innings of relief. The senior allowed one run on five hits while striking out two.