WHEATON, Ill. – The University of Chicago baseball team earned its first win of the young season in a Saturday split, defeating Wheaton College 11-2 before losing to Calvin University 9-2.

Game One – UChicago 11, Wheaton 2

After a quiet group performance in the season opener the previous day, UChicago's offense woke up in a big way against the host Thunder. The Maroon bats posted 13 total hits while cracking three doubles and two triples. The top of the third inning put the visitors ahead 3-1 thanks to a pair of RBI sacrifice flies and a wild pitch.

Wheaton got one back in the bottom of the second, but the Maroons responded with three more in the fifth. First-year outfielder Max Chou tripled and scored on a subsequent single by senior shortstop Brian Lyle. Two batters later, junior third baseman Carson Weekley smacked a two-run triple to left field to make it 6-2.

Any chance of a Thunder rally was snuffed out in the bottom of the sixth. A bases-loaded situation was averted by an inning-ending fielder's choice on the infield.

UChicago kept the bats hot with two runs in the seventh, one in the eighth and two more in the ninth. Weekley, sophomore designated hitter Matthew Guyton, Lyle and rookie first baseman Dominick Angellotti each drove in runs during that stretch.

On the mound, the Maroons were effective throughout. Sophomore Michael Allegri got the start and struck out six with three hits and two runs allowed in four innings. First-year Drew Bryan worked the next four innings to get the win. He held Wheaton to one hit to go with two walks and five strikeouts. First-year Dean Casey tossed a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout.

Chou impressed with a 4-for-4 showing at the plate, including two doubles and a triple. Weekley went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs. Lyle hit 2-for-4 with two RBI and two stolen bases.

Game Two – Calvin 9, UChicago 2

The nightcap went Calvin's way. UChicago got on the board right away thanks to a run-scoring error. But the Maroons were held hitless for the opening seven innings of the game.

Meanwhile, the Knights cooked up big frames with four runs in the second, two in the third and three more in the eighth.

Fifth-year senior outfielder Payton Jancsy provided the Maroons' second tally with an RBI single through the right side in the top of the eighth. UChicago was limited to three hits total while making two errors defensively.

Guyton took the loss with five runs allowed in 2.2 innings of work. First-year Phil Hogan threw 4.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Sophomore Hayden Brotz put in one inning of relief as well.

NEXT GAMES:

• Sunday, March 21 @ Noon – UChicago at Knox College (DH)