CHICAGO – No lead was safe on Friday afternoon at J. Kyle Anderson Field. Wild momentum swings punctuated the contest throughout as the University of Chicago baseball team came up just short against North Central College, 11-10.

The Maroons (15-6 record) closed out their nine-game home stand with a 7-2 mark. The Cardinals moved to 11-8 on the season.

The two teams combined for 25 hits and five innings with at least three runs scored. UChicago started the fireworks with one in the first inning and a four-run second inning to go up 5-0. A walk, a single and an error loaded the bases with one out, and junior outfielder Maximiliano Larsen delivered a two-run single through the right side of the infield. Sophomore catcher Ian Bohn followed up immediately by blasting a double to right field to drive in two more.

However, the lead was erased in the top of the fifth. After making two outs to start the frame, North Central strung together five-straight hits that led to four runs and a tie at 5-5. The Cardinals previously tallied one on a sacrifice fly in the third inning.

The visitors added three more in the sixth, but UChicago had the answer in the bottom half. The Maroons filled the bases with no outs and senior first baseman Thomas Prescott worked a walk to force a runner in. A pair of sacrifice flies by sophomore designated hitter Brady Sarkon and freshman second baseman Payton Jancsy tied the game once more, 8-8.

However, the Cardinals got to the Maroon relief pitchers again and went up 11-8 in the eighth. The hosts got rolling their half of the eighth, putting runners at second and third. A wild pitch scored one and an expertly placed RBI bunt by Jancsy chopped the deficit to 11-10.

UChicago got the leadoff runner on in the ninth, but was stifled from there as North Central escaped the jam.

The Maroon hitters tallied 10 hits while the defense committed two errors. Larsen continued his hot streak by going 3-for-4 with two walks and two RBI. Over the past seven games, Larsen owns a .583 batting average (14-24) with five walks drawn. Jancsy hit 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Sophomore Brenton Villasenor got the start and allowed five runs in five innings of work. Freshman Arno Curtis (2-2 record) absorbed the loss in 1.1 innings of relief. Freshman Patrick Murphy and junior Michael Davis also made appearances on the mound.

NEXT GAMES:

• Saturday, April 15 @ Noon – UChicago at Beloit (DH)