May 8, 2007

Maroons Win Season Finale

CHICAGO -- Making his final appearance in a Chicago uniform, senior pitcher Dan Cozzi (Park Ridge, Ill./ St. Ignatius) won his sixth game of the year and the 14th of his career as the University of Chicago baseball team defeated North Central College 11-4 in the Maroons' season finale Tuesday at J. Kyle Anderson Field.

Cozzi (6-2) threw eight and one-third innings, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on five hits. He finished his career tied for seventh place on the Chicago all-time victories list.

The Maroons finished the year with a 17-17 record, marking the team's eighth consecutive .500 or better campaign and 12th in the past 13 years.

North Central (16-24) scored a run in the top of the first inning, but the Maroons answered with three runs in the second and third innings and two more in the fourth.

Senior second baseman Tony Zitek (Tampa, Fla./ Plant), senior designated hitter John Thomas (Bloomington, Ind./ South), and senior third baseman Allen Cooper (Newburyport, Mass./ Governor Dummer) each enjoyed productive career finales.

Junior right fielder Mike Serio (Antioch, Ill./ Carmel) went 2-for-4 to finish the season with a 12-game hitting streak -- the longest by a Maroon in 2007. He also drove in three runs on the day.

Freshman catcher Gino Miglio (Chicago, Ill./ De La Salle) also collected three RBIs with two hits in three at-bats. He ended the season with an eight-game hitting streak.

Zitek went 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Thomas was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Cooper was 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.

Erik Hudson (1-1) took the loss for the Cardinals. He was tagged for eight hits and six runs over two and two-thirds innings.

Box Score