April 29, 2007

Maroons Win Three of Four in St. Louis;
Brian Baldea Becomes Chicago's Winningest Coach

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The University of Chicago baseball team won three of four games on the campus of Washington (Mo.) University Saturday and Sunday. The Maroons' first win of the weekend marked the 281st career victory for Head Coach Brian Baldea, making him the winningest coach in the program's 115-year history.

In the first of Saturday's two games, Chicago scored all five of its runs in the top of the third inning en route to a 5-4 win over 13th-ranked Washington.

Chicago sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning. Senior designated hitter John Thomas (Bloomington, Ind./ South) singled home the third run of the frame and scored the eventual winning run on a base hit from sophomore right fielder Travis Blane (Valparaiso, Ind./ Valparaiso).

Senior pitcher Dan Cozzi (Park Ridge, Ill./ St. Ignatius) went the distance to raise his record to 4-2. He struck out 10 while allowing six hits and four walks.

In Saturday's second contest, the Maroons routed Case Western Reserve University 13-1.

Sophomore pitcher Alex Gallan (Downers Grove, Ill./ South) threw seven innings for the complete game without allowing an earned run. Gallan is now 2-2 on the season.

Senior third baseman Allen Cooper (Newburyport, Mass./ Newburyport), junior center fielder Nathan Ginsberg (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./ Dobbs Ferry), and freshman shortstop Robby Serpico (Schaumburg, Ill./ Hampshire) led the Chicago attack.

Cooper and Ginsberg both went 4-for-4; Ginsberg scored three runs and drove in a pair. Serpico collected four hits in five at-bats, including his first career home run.

On Sunday, the Maroons routed Case 23-4 before falling to the host Bears 13-3.

In the win over the Spartans, junior left fielder Mike Serio (Antioch, Ill./ Carmel) scored five runs and drove in three, while sophomore first baseman Kyle Schmitt (Hoffman Estates, Ill./ Fremd) collected five RBIs. Senior second baseman Tony Zitek (Tampa, Fla./ Plant) scored four times and drove in two.

Junior pitcher Dominik Meyer (River Forest, Ill./ Oak Park River Forest) went six innings to post the victory, raising his season record to 4-3.

In their final game, the Maroons (13-14) trailed 5-3 after six innings before the Bears plated eight runs off three Chicago hurlers en route to an eight-run seventh inning.

Junior center fielder Mike Morgan (Chicago, Ill./ Northridge Prep) and freshman catcher Gino Miglio (Chicago, Ill./ DeLaSalle) each had an RBI.