CHICAGO -- Sophomore pitcher Joe Pankow (Naperville, Ill./ North) threw seven scoreless innings as the University of Chicago baseball team defeated Wheaton (Ill.) College 6-4 Wednesday at J. Kyle Anderson Field.

Facing a Wheaton club that averaged 8.7 runs per game with a .353 team batting average, Pankow allowed just four hits over seven innings of work to raise his record to 3-2.

Chicago (8-13) led 6-0 after eight innings, but Wheaton (20-12) rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth off freshman Dan McConologue (Lockport, Ill./ Lockport), who relieved Pankow to start the eighth inning.

Wheaton had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth, but McConologue struck out the final two batters en route to recording his first career save.

Junior catcher Scott Hofer (San Marino, Calif./ Flintridge) gave the Maroons an early lead when he belted his first home run of the season, a two-run blast in the first inning.

Hofer and junior first baseman Kyle Schmitt (Hoffman Estates, Ill./ Fremd) pulled off a double steal in the third inning, as Schmitt scored and Hofer swiped second.

Chicago added three runs in the eighth on a triple from senior designated hitter Dominik Meyer (River Forest, Ill./ Oak Park-River Forest). Meyer drove in two runs with the shot to left center field and came around to score when the throw from the outfield sailed out of play.

Sophomore shortstop Rob Serpico (Schaumburg, Ill./ Hampshire) led off the eighth inning with base hit to right field, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.

The first of seven Wheaton hurlers, John Little (2-2) took the loss. Matt Bradley collected a pair of RBIs in a losing effort.

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