CHICAGO, Ill. – Four unearned runs proved crucial on Wednesday as the University of Chicago baseball team lost to Illinois Institute of Technology 8-5. The Maroons dropped to 4-15 and the Scarlet Hawks improved to 8-9.

UChicago senior infielder Dylan Massey got the home team off on the right foot by starting the first inning with a double. He came in to score two batters later on a RBI fielder's choice by junior third baseman Kyle Engel.

Starting pitcher Anthony DeRenzo whipped through the first three innings unscathed by IIT's lineup. But with two outs in the fourth inning, UChicago ran into trouble. A throwing error put a runner on base and the next hitter brought him in with a triple to right field. Two singles and a double in succession brought in three more unearned runs to give the visitors a 4-1 lead.

The Scarlet Hawks went up 5-1 in the fifth after a RBI double. The Maroons got back within one at 5-4 with three runs in their half of the fifth. Three-straight singles loaded the bases for senior outfielder Brett Huff, who then knocked a two-run single through the right side of the infield. Huff was then part of a double steal that resulted in senior outfielder Ricky Troncelliti stealing home.

IIT recorded a pair of RBI infield singles to surge ahead 7-4 in the sixth inning, and then drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning to make the score 8-4.

UChicago gave itself a chance to rally in the bottom of the ninth. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with one out. Troncelliti stepped to the plate and smacked a tailing line drive to left field. But the left fielder prevented a bases-clearing hit by diving full out to snag the ball and record the out, allowing only the runner on third to tag up and score on the sacrifice fly. IIT then got the final out to secure the win without any further damage.

The Maroons committed five errors defensively. On offense, the home side tallied 11 hits, including a career-best 4-for-5 performance by junior Andrew VanWazer. Huff finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and Engel was 2-for-5 with one RBI.

DeRenzo (1-2) absorbed the loss in his four innings on the hill. He gave up five hits and four unearned runs to go with one strikeout. Junior Kyle Nitiss threw 2-2/3 innings of relief with seven hits, four runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Sophomore Alex Athenson posted 1-1/3 innings, one hit and two walks. Junior Simon Swanson pitched the ninth inning and struck out one batter.

NEXT GAMES:

• Saturday, Apr. 12 – Beloit College at UChicago (DH), 1 PM