CHICAGO – The University of Chicago baseball team fell victim to the long ball and missed opportunities in a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader with Lawrence University, losing by scores of 8-3 and 5-4.

The Maroons dropped to 5-6 overall and 0-2 in the Midwest Conference North Division. The Vikings improved to 8-4 overall (2-2 MWC North).

Game One – Lawrence 8, UChicago 3

Tuesday at J. Kyle Anderson Field marked the first conference games of the season for the Maroons, who were also playing for the first time since March 28. Game one featured plenty of power pitching from both sides, as the teams combined for 21 strikeouts.

Lawrence struck first with a solo homer to center field in the top of the second inning. The visitors then added another in the fifth on a double steal. Sophomore Blane Soper provided the Maroon responses each time. In the bottom of the third, he drove in fifth-year senior Payton Jancsy with a single through the left side. Then he plated Jancsy again in the fifth with a double to left center.

UChicago had the visitors on the ropes right away in the bottom of the first, but let a golden opportunity slip away. The Maroons loaded the bases with one out thanks to a hit-by-pitch and two walks. Lawrence starting pitcher Preston Anderson escaped the jam by fanning the next two batters.

The Vikings were aggressive on the base paths with five stolen base attempts in the contest. UChicago junior catcher Brett Riegler was up to the challenge, throwing out four would-be base stealers in impressive fashion.

The two squads exchanged runs again in the eighth. With two outs in the bottom of the frame, junior Jason Vrbancic laced a single to the opposite field to score Soper and tie the game at 3-3. However, Lawrence came roaring back in the ninth inning by scoring five times with two outs.

UChicago was limited to six hits in the game. Soper provided half of that tally, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.

Sophomore Tyler Sarkisian struck out a career-high nine batters in his six innings of work. He allowed two runs on six hits with one walk. Sophomore Cole Silva (1-1 record) took the loss in 2.2 innings of relief, surrendering three runs. Seniors David Clarke (3 R) and Zach Morochnik also made appearances in the ninth inning.

Game Two – Lawrence 5, UChicago 4

The windy conditions proved troublesome in game two as well. With the wind blowing out to left, the Vikings cranked three home runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

Senior Brian Lyle got UChicago off to a promising start right off the bat. He led off with a single, stole second base and scored on an RBI groundout by Soper.

The Maroons added more in the fourth and fifth innings to go up 3-1. Vrbancic scored Soper on a grounder, and Jancsy drove in Lyle with a single to right.

A two-run shot by Lawrence knotted the game at 3-3. The visitors then added one in the seventh and eighth to draw ahead 5-3. UChicago looked poised to erase the deficit in the bottom of the eighth. Jancsy led off with a single and Soper's deep double to left center brought him in. A hit-by-pitch and a walk loaded the bases with one out. However, the Maroons came up empty as the next two batters were retired on strikes.

The final box score saw UChicago tally 10 hits along with committing three errors. Lyle and Jancsy were both 3-for-5 at the plate. Riegler went 2-for-2 with a walk.

On the mound, UChicago starting pitcher Dylan White zipped his big fastball past Lawrence bats consistently for a career-best seven strikeouts. The sophomore's final pitching line included three runs, three hits and four walks. Sophomore Michael Allegri (0-1 record) allowed one run in his one inning of work and was saddled with the loss. Sophomore Matthew Guyton (1 UE, 1 K) and fifth-year senior Grant Stone (1 K) both worked one inning of relief each.

NEXT GAMES:

• Saturday, April 17 @ Noon – Beloit College at UChicago (DH)