INDIANAPOLIS - The University of Chicago baseball team (8-2) extended their winning streak with a dominant 19-2 victory over Franklin College (2-2) in Indianapolis on February 28, 2025. After a thrilling 16-11 victory over Franklin just hours earlier, the Maroons showcased an explosive offensive attack once again, this time scoring in seven of the game's eight innings. The game was highlighted by a massive 11-run first inning that set the tone, as UChicago rallied in dramatic fashion to seize control early and never looked back.

vs Franklin (Game 1)
Franklin jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first inning with a pair of home runs putting UChicago on the defensive. Franklin continued to capitalize on the Maroons' early struggles, taking a 9-2 lead by the third inning.
However, UChicago responded with resilience. In the third inning, Erik Rindner's single brought Braden Jirovec across the plate, cutting the deficit to 6-2. Max Wiesner followed suit in the fourth inning with a solo home run, narrowing the gap to 10-3.
In a defining moment in the game, the Maroons erupted for seven runs in the eighth inning. Starting with a sacrifice fly from Richard Lu to score Josh Peyton. UChicago capitalized on Franklin's defensive miscues. A series of fielding errors allowed multiple unearned runs to come home, including RBIs from Michael Gladden and Jack Sharp. By the end of the inning, the Maroons had surged ahead, 12-11.
Chicago added further insurance in the ninth with more timely hits and aggressive baserunning. Rindner drove in Jirovec with a sacrifice fly, and Gladden tacked on another run with an RBI single. A wild throw on a stolen base attempt allowed two more runs to cross, and Wiesner capped the scoring with a double, pushing the final score to 16-11.
Ben Liebel (2-0) earned the win with four solid innings of relief, limiting Franklin to just one run while striking out eight. The Maroons' pitching staff overall did an excellent job keeping Franklin's offense in check, with Charlie Hahn and Drew Bryan contributing scoreless frames.

vs Franklin (Game 2)
Hayden Leiderman earned the win for UChicago, improving to 2-0 on the season. The senior pitcher was solid through three innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two and walking none. Grant Tenuta, Kason Pelz, Matthew Richert, and Landon Brice all took turns on the mound, combining to keep Franklin's offense in check for the remainder of the game.
The UChicago offense was led by a standout performance from Jack Sharp, who blasted a grand slam in the third inning, driving in four runs and highlighting a four-run frame. Eddie McCarthy also contributed significantly with a 1-for-3 showing, plating four RBIs, while Erik Rindner (2 RBIs), Brady Miller (2 RBIs), and Max Wiesner (2 RBIs) each added to the offensive onslaught.
The Maroons' batting began in the first inning when they took advantage of Franklin's defensive miscues, scoring 11 runs in the opening frame. Braden Jirovec, Nathan Bae, and Michael Gladden were key contributors in that early barrage, with each scoring multiple times. The first inning saw Franklin's defense struggle with errors that allowed unearned runs to cross the plate, setting the stage for an explosive game.
The Maroons continued their dominance throughout the game, scoring in nearly every inning. In the sixth, the team tacked on three more runs to further seal their win, with contributions from Devan Johnson and Brady Miller.
The victory capped off a remarkable performance by UChicago, who now look forward to their next challenge with their momentum fully intact.