CHICAGO – Fresh off a thrilling victory over Beloit on Wednesday, University of Chicago baseball was back in action at home and taking on first place conference foe Lawrence University. While the Maroon bats couldn't figure out the Vikings pitching in time during game one, it only took them a few pitches to do so in a second game blowout as the teams split on Saturday afternoon in Chicago.
RESULTS
Lawrence – 8
UChicago – 4
Lawrence – 4
UChicago – 13
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Game One
- Lawrence (20-7, 12-1 MWC) played an advantageous game of baseball to begin the doubleheader against the University of Chicago (8-16, 7-3 MWC) and netted three of their first five runs because of errors or wild pitches. The Maroons defensive effort eventually got back on track but not before they were faced with a 5-0 deficit heading into the final frame.
- The Vikings got some insurance runs to begin that ninth inning, grabbing two runs on a pair of fielder's choices before a single ended the LU scoring in the contest and gave the Maroons three outs to score eight runs.
- UChicago was almost up for that challenge. A Will Benner single plated the home teams first run of the contest and was followed up by a Jonathan Zeevi double that made it 8-2. Two more singles from Jack Sharp and Braden Jirovec cut the Lawrence lead in half at 8-4 but the Maroon & White couldn't get any more and left a runner on in a game one four run loss.
- Game Two
- Game two featured a much different outcome. The Maroon bats exploded for nine runs in the first three stanzas including a third inning where they batted around and scored seven tallies. Erik Rindner would go on to have two different RBI plate appearances in that frame as University of Chicago would head into the last six innings holding a substantial 9-1 advantage.
- A Vikings double in the fifth could have provided the kindling for a comeback but UChicago was quick to put that out in the bottom half of the same inning. Another Rindner plate appearance resulted in a double and a pair of RBIs as the sophomore negated the visitors gains and would go on to finish just a triple short of the cycle.
- Single Maroon runs would follow in the sixth and eight innings while the bullpen held things down for eight straight quality frames. The tandem of Kirk Waller and Hayden Leiderman gave up just four runs during that span while striking out nine to hand the Vikings their first conference loss of the season.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
- Game One
- Game Two
- Erik Rindner: 4-for-4, two runs scored, doubles, home run, four RBIs
- Kirk Waller: 4.1 innings pitched, one run allowed, six strikeouts
WHO'S ON DECK
The Maroons will try and go for the series win tomorrow when they take on Lawrence once more on J. Kyle Anderson Field. Game time from Chicago is set for 12:00 pm.
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