CHICAGO – The University of Chicago baseball team continued its run of strong pitching performances in a 5-2 home win against Beloit College on Tuesday afternoon.

The Maroons (11-6 overall) improved to 7-1 in the Midwest Conference and won their sixth-straight home game. The Bucs dropped to 11-11 (7-5 MWC).

Errors loomed large early in the contest. Beloit committed three in the second inning alone, which helped UChicago take a 3-0 lead. With runners on first and second, a ground ball bobble was exacerbated by an errant throw, allowing junior Blane Soper to motor all the way around to home plate. Sophomore Noah Nelson immediately delivered an RBI single through the left side, and first-year Josh Peyton's RBI fielder's choice made the score 3-0.

The Bucs looked to make a move the very next frame in the top of the third inning. After an error put the leadoff man on first, the visitors were able to load the bases with one out. A subsequent line drive to deep left looked sure to drive in multiple runs. But first-year Jackson Slipock raced back to his right and made a diving catch to rob Beloit of an extra-base hit. He quickly relayed the ball back to the infield and the Maroons doubled off the runner at second base to end the inning with only one run allowed.

Slipock added another defensive highlight in the top of the sixth as well. Two Maroon errors extended the inning and Beloit mashed a double to the left field fence to score one. The Bucs sent a second runner towards home as well. However, Slipock and Peyton combined to execute a precision relay to senior catcher Brett Riegler, whose sweep tag at the plate cut down the runner as he slid past.

Starting pitcher Dylan White was a workhorse on the mound. The junior righty didn't lose any steam as he pitched into the eighth inning, firing lively fastballs past Beloit bats all game long. He finished with eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings before he was relieved by first-year Kirk Waller. With two runners on base and UChicago clinging to a 3-2 lead, the Maroon rookie induced a swinging strikeout to escape the eighth-inning jam.

UChicago finally got some breathing room in the bottom of the eighth. Senior Carson Weekley came through in the clutch once again, mashing an RBI double to left field with two outs. He then came around to score on first-year Jack Goldstein's single through the left side.

Junior relief pitcher Hayden Brotz entered the game in the ninth for the save opportunity. Brotz threw all eight of his pitches for strikes, fanning two batters and getting the final out via infield grounder.

White improved to 2-1 on the season with two unearned runs, five hits, three walks and the eight strikeouts. The Maroons currently lead the MWC with a 2.66 team ERA in conference games.

UChicago compiled nine hits and made three errors defensively. Nelson, Goldstein, Riegler and Soper posted two hits each.  

NEXT GAMES:

• Thursday, April 14 @ 1:00 PM – UChicago at Knox College (DH)