From University of Chicago Athletics
A pair of four-run innings aided the University of Chicago baseball team in its 11-3 win against Carleton College on Monday.
The Maroons improved to 5-2 while the Knights fell to 4-4.
Carleton threatened early by reaching third base in each of the opening two innings. But UChicago freshman starting pitcher Daniel Smith ended both frames before any damage was done. The Maroons grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a RBI fielder's choice from senior third baseman Tim Sonnefeldt.
The bottom of the fourth broke the game open as UChicago tallied four runs. A walk and two singles loaded the bases for outfielder Connor Hickey, and the sophomore brought two in with a double. Sophomore catcher Ian Bohn drew a walk to force another run in, and junior first baseman Michael Davis made it 5-0 with a sacrifice fly to right field.
After Carleton got one back in the top of the fifth, the Maroons struck again with two in the bottom of the frame. A run-scoring single by freshman infielder Drew Ventrelle and a RBI sacrifice fly by Hickey pushed the lead to 7-1.
Three walks helped the Knights load the bases with one out in the sixth inning. Carleton pushed two across to pull within 7-3. But the home side put the game out of reach in the eighth with another four-spot. Sophomore designated hitter Brady Sarkon smacked a two-run double, followed by an RBI groundout by freshman second baseman Payton Jancsyand a RBI double by Sonnefeldt to account for the final score.
UChicago's offense tallied 12 hits and drew eight walks, while committing three errors defensively. Sarkon and Sonnefeldt both hit 2-for-4 with two RBI apiece. Sophomore outfielder Josh Parks went 2-for-3, and Hickey tallied three RBI.
The freshman pitching tandem of Smith and Arno Curtis limited Carleton limited to five hits over nine innings. All told, they stranded 13 runners combined. Smith (1-1) earned his first collegiate win with 5.1 innings, three runs, two hits, six walks and two strikeouts. Curtis earned the save by going 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and striking out two.