From University of Chicago Athletics

The University of Chicago baseball team got back into the win column and utilized an 11-run inning to dispatch Illinois Institute of Technology 16-5 on Friday.

The Maroons snapped a five-game losing streak to improve to 18-11 on the season. The Scarlet Hawks fell to 11-25. The 16 runs were the second-highest tally of the season for UChicago, which owns a 10-2 record in games when the offense accounts for double-digit runs.

UChicago loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first, but could only get one across on a sacrifice fly from sophomore catcher Ian Bohn. The very next inning, sophomore outfielder Connor Hickey drove a RBI double down the right field line and then scored on an error.

IIT got two runs back with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the second. The score then became 5-2 in the fourth thanks to RBI groundouts from sophomore second baseman Max Brzostowski and junior outfielder Maximiliano Larsen.

Then the big sixth inning put the Maroons over the top. The visitors scored 11 times to put the game out of reach. A single and two walks filled the bases to start the inning, and all told, the Scarlet Hawks walked five-straight batters. Sophomore designated hitter Brady Sarkon and sophomore outfielder Josh Parks both received RBI walks in that time, while another run scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore shortstop Justin Lo pulled a two-run single down the left field line. After a run-scoring error, Brzostowski and Larsen produced RBI singles back-to-back. Senior first baseman Thomas Prescott capped the proceedings by jacking a three-run homer to right field for the first round-tripper of his career.

IIT scored three in the bottom of the seventh but the game ended after that. Sophomore pitcher Brenton Villasenor pushed his record to 6-2 on the season. The right-hander compiled five strikeouts in six innings to go with two runs on five hits and one walk. Freshman Daniel Smith pitched the final inning, posting three runs and two strikeouts.

UChicago's offense, which ranks in the top seven in the nation in batting average, totaled 12 hits. The lineup also stole five bases and drew nine walks on the afternoon. The defense committed two errors.

Hickey and Parks finished with three hits, one RBI and one stolen base each. Prescott was 2-for-4 with his three-run homer. Brzostowski went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two steals, while Larsen was 1-for-2 with two RBI and three walks. Larsen leads the squad with 20 walks drawn, which marks the third-straight season he has reached that threshold.