May 6, 2006

Chicago Sweeps Benedictine; Extends Win Streak to Six

CHICAGO -- Freshman Kyle Schmitt (Hoffman Estates, Ill./ Fremd) drove in the winning run in game one and tossed a complete-game four-hitter in the nightcap as the University of Chicago baseball team swept a doubleheader against Benedictine (Ill.) University Saturday at J. Kyle Anderson Field.

With the two wins, the Maroons (16-15) extended their winning streak to a season-long six games and surpassed the .500 mark for the first time since the second day of the year.

Schmitt's walk-off double in Saturday's opener capped a six-run Chicago rally. Trailing 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Maroons' first three batters walked. A sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman first baseman Scott Hofer (San Marino, Calif./ Flintridge Prep) and an RBI single by senior designated hitter Ryan Denton (Worth, Ill./ Marist) made the score 6-3.

With two outs, junior shortstop Allen Cooper (Newburyport, Mass./ Governor Dummer) singled to drive in a pair of runs and then scored the winning run when Schmitt -- who entered the game as a pinch-hitter -- clubbed a double to deep right center to give Chicago a 7-6 victory.

Junior pitcher Dan Cozzi (Park Ridge, Ill./ St. Ignatius) went the distance to raise his record to 4-2. He allowed four hits and five walks while fanning seven. Three of the six runs he allowed were unearned.

Benedictine's Scott Martin and Ryan Berecz each drove in three runs in a losing effort.

In the second game, Schmitt (1-2) earned his first career victory and complete game as he scattered four hits over seven frames as the Maroons rolled to a 6-2 win.

Denton collected a pair of RBIs, while sophomore left fielder Mike Serio (Antioch, Ill./ Carmel) went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Cooper and Cozzi each went 2-for-3.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2