NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Junior catcher Scott Hofer (San Marino, Calif./ Flintridge Prep) collected three RBIs and senior center fielder Mike Morgan (Chicago, Ill./ Northridge) hit his first career home run as the University of Chicago baseball team defeated host North Central College 8-6 Tuesday afternoon.

Morgan's solo home run in the top of the fourth inning tied the game at 3-3.

Hofer's second RBI of the day, on a one-out double in the fifth, gave the Maroons (10-17) the lead for good, 4-3. Senior right fielder Nathan Ginsberg (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./ Dobbs Ferry) and junior designated hitter Travis Blane (Valparaiso, Ind./ Valparaiso) each added run-scoring doubles in the fifth as Chicago plated three runs in the inning.

Chicago added single runs in the sixth and the ninth. North Central (14-23) rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Cardinals left the tying run at the plate.

Freshman pitcher Marshall Oium (Temecula, Calif./ Great Oak) (1-3) earned the victory, as he held the Cardinals to one run in the fifth through eighth innings.

Hofer led the Maroons' 12-hit attack with three doubles. Morgan, Ginsberg, senior third baseman Mike Serio (Antioch, Ill./ Carmel), and freshman left fielder Zach Osman (Long Beach, Ind./ Marquette) each had a pair of hits.

Justin Rezzuto (2-2) took the loss for North Central, allowing five runs over 4.1 innings. Steve Hlavac went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.

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