CHICAGO, Ill. – The University of Chicago baseball team couldn't get going on offense and lost to North Central College 5-2 on Wednesday.

The Maroons fell to 7-21 while the Cardinals improved to 19-10.

North Central opened the scoring in the second inning when a wild pitch and a throwing error on the same play brought in the runner from second base. Outside the unearned run, UChicago starting pitcher Alex Terry cruised through the first five innings. The senior lefty kept the Cardinals off balance by mixing his speeds and keeping the ball low in the zone to force weak balls in play.

The Maroons had an opportunity to tie or surge into the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. But two strikeouts in-a-row kept UChicago off the scoreboard.

North Central went up 3-0 in the sixth inning, which started with a leadoff double. A single through the right side brought in two runners. The home team responded in the bottom of the frame when senior outfielder Ricky Troncelliti tripled to the right field corner and then scored on an overthrow at third base.

The visitors then scored in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 5-1 lead thanks to a pair of RBI singles. UChicago brought in one run in the ninth on a fielding error, but the score ended 5-2 in favor of North Central.

Terry (2-4) was the losing pitcher in seven innings. His stat line included six hits, four runs (three earned), five walks and four strikeouts. Junior Kyle Nitiss pitched the last two innings with two hits, one run, one walk and two strikeouts.

The Maroons were held to five hits and made one error. Junior third baseman Kyle Engel went 2-for-4 at the plate.

NEXT GAMES:

• Saturday, Apr. 26 – Monmouth College vs. UChicago (DH), 12 PM (at Gouwen's Park, South Holland, Ill.)