April 29, 2006

Maroons Defeat Case at Chicago Invitational

CHICAGO -- Freshman first baseman Scott Hofer (San Marino, Calif./ Flintridge Prep) went 4-for-5 with four RBIs as the University of Chicago baseball team defeated Case Western Reserve University 11-5 in the opening game of the Chicago Invitational Saturday at J. Kyle Anderson Field.

Hofer drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to give the Maroons the lead for good, 5-4. He then smashed a bases-clearing double in the eighth inning to help propel Chicago (12-15) to its second straight win and sixth in its last eight outings.

Senior third baseman Matt Assad (Gurnee, Ill./ Carmel) collected a pair of RBIs, while junior second baseman Tony Zitek (Tampa, Fla./ Plant) and sophomore center fielder Nathan Ginsberg (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./ Dobbs Ferry) each had three hits.

Junior pitcher Dan Cozzi (Park Ridge, Ill./ St. Ignatius) struck out 10 batters in seven-plus innings to improve to 3-2 on the season. Ginsberg pitched the final two frames to notch his first career save.

In Saturday's second game, 28th-ranked Washington (Mo.) University (33-5) defeated Case (10-21-1) 6-1. Bears' hurler Brent Buffa raised his record to 10-0 with the complete-game victory.

Saturday's third game between Chicago and Washington (Mo.) was canceled as a result of rain.

Chicago will host Case in a doubleheader Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Box Score - Chicago 11, Case 5
Box Score - Washington (Mo.) 6, Case 1