March 27, 2006

Maroons Finish 2-7 in Arizona

CHICAGO -- The University of Chicago baseball team posted a 2-7 mark during its season-opening nine-game swing in Phoenix, Arizona, from March 20-26.

Chicago 6-3, Calvin 3-10 (Mar. 20)
The Maroons opened the season with a doubleheader split, taking game one 6-3 before dropping the nightcap 10-3. Senior pitcher Dan Yeksigian (Downers Grove, Ill./ Benet) threw a complete game in the opener, allowing six hits and one earned run over seven innings with seven strikeouts. Junior first baseman Dan Cozzi (Park Ridge, Ill./ St. Ignatius) drove in a pair of runs. He then delivered three RBIs in game two.

Buena Vista 2, Chicago 1 (Mar. 21)
Junior third baseman Allen Cooper (Newburyport, Mass./ Governor Dummer) tied the game with a run-scoring double in the top of the ninth, but the Beavers won the game with a one-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom half of the inning. Cozzi turned in a strong effort on the mound, as he scattered five hits in eight and one-third frames.

Williams 4, Chicago 1 (Mar. 22)
A three-run outburst by the Ephs in the bottom of the seventh sent the Maroons to their third straight setback. Junior John Thomas's (Bloomington, Ind./ South) run-scoring double in the top of the third accounted for Chicago's lone run.

Johns Hopkins 9, Chicago 1 (Mar. 23)
The Blue Jays collected 11 hits and took advantage of seven bases on balls en route to the win. Freshman catcher Scott Hofer (San Marino, Calif./ Flintridge Prep) went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Luther 10, Chicago 9 (Mar. 24)
Cozzi's RBI double in the top of the eighth gave the Maroons a 9-8 lead before the Norse rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman right fielder Travis Blane (Valparaiso, Ind./ Valparaiso) collected three hits, while Hofer went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Hartwick 7-9, Chicago 6-8 (Mar. 25)
The Hawks came from behind in both halves of the twinbill to hand Chicago its second and third straight one-run losses. Six different Maroons scored during a six-run outburst in the top of the fifth in game one. The Hawks won the extra-innings affair with a one-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth. In the nightcap, Hofer went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI to lead an 11-hit attack in a losing effort. Cooper had two hits and two RBIs.

Chicago 8, Thomas 7 (Mar. 26)
With the game tied 7-7 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Cooper delivered a run-scoring single to give the Maroons their second win of the week. After the first two Chicago batters were retired, Cozzi singled -- one of his four hits on the day -- and advanced to second on a balk to set up Cooper's winning base hit. Hofer went 3-for-5 for his fifth consecutive multi-hit effort.

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