From University of Chicago Athletics
The University of Chicago baseball team utilized dominant pitching and an offensive outburst to win a pair of games at Edgewood College on Sunday afternoon.
The two wins improved UChicago to 18-15 on the season while dropping the host Eagles to 14-24.
Game One – UChicago 4, Edgewood 0
Senior pitcher Lucas Friss delivered a vintage effort in the opener, going the distance while striking out eight for a four-hit shutout. It was Friss' fourth complete game and second shutout of the year. He improved to 5-2 and lowered his season ERA to 2.62.
The Maroon offense scattered 14 hits, while the defense had Friss' back, playing errorless baseball en route to the 4-0 win. Six UChicago batters had two hits and two had one, giving eight of the nine lineup spots hits. The junior duo of outfielder Nicholas Toomey and shortstop Ryan Krob each added a double while sophomore outfielder Max Larsen knocked in two. Toomey, Krob, sophomore first baseman Michael Davis, freshman designated hitter Josh Parks, freshman catcher Ian Bohn and senior third baseman Tim Sonnefeldt each tallied two hits.
After singles from Parks and Bohn kick started the top of the second inning, a fielder's choice followed by a throwing error gave the Maroons an early 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, UChicago was back at it. Parks started things off with another single, and then Sonnefeldt followed a fielder's choice with a bunt single to put runners at the corners with one out. With two outs, a wild pitch put two men in scoring position with Larsen up. The sophomore delivered in the pivotal spot, knocking in both Parks and Sonnefeldt with a single to right field, giving his team a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Maroons added one more run via sacrifice fly. That was all their senior workhorse would need as Friss shut down the Eagles, going 1-2-3 in the eighth and ninth innings.
Game Two – UChicago 12, Edgewood 1
The nightcap was tied through two innings when in the top of the third, the Maroons broke through for a 3-0 lead. The contest soon gave way to a blowout – after five innings it was 6-0, and by the sixth, it was 10-0 – as the UChicago offense ended the game early 12-1 in seven innings.
With 13 more hits, the Maroons finished the doubleheader with a combined 27 base-knocks. The visitors worked three walks (compared to zero in the opener) and had four different batters hit doubles.
Toomey had another big day in the day's second game, going 3-for-5 and two RBI while Krob reached base in 3-of-5 plate appearances, delivering a game-high four RBI. Parks (two RBI), Davis (one RBI) and Larsen all posted two hits apiece.
UChicago scored three in the third, three in the fifth, four in the sixth and two in the seventh to run away with the victory.
For all the fireworks that the Maroon offense created, they also received another stellar outing from freshman pitcher Joe Liberman. The righthander improved his record to 4-2 on the year, going all seven innings while allowing only one run with three hits, two walks and six strikeouts. Liberman's second complete game was the sixth time this season that he has allowed one or zero earned runs. His 1.66 ERA leads the UChicago rotation.