CHICAGO, Ill. – The Elmhurst baseball team pulled within one with an eighth-inning rally, but the University of Chicago responded with a five-run bottom of the eighth to win 9-3.
After a scoreless first, Chicago found the scoreboard first in the second inning. With two outs, Brady Sarkon walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then, Parks singled through the left side and a bobble in the outfield allowed Sarkon to score.
Elmhurst answered quickly, tying the score in the top of the third with the help of a pair of Chicago errors. After
Brandon Kressner reached on an error,
Ben Havel ripped a single to right center and an error by the right fielder allowed Kressner to score all the way from first.
Max Brzostowski tried to bunt for a hit and Elmhurst's pitcher
Justin Luzzi's throw went down the line. With the runner on third, Connor Hickey singled up the middle to plate the Maroons' second run of the contest. Chicago added to its lead in the fifth with a Michael Davis RBI double and the seventh with Brzostowski scoring on a ground out.
Elmhurst made it a one-run game with a pair in the eighth.
A.J. Compton put himself in scoring position by advancing on a wild pitch after being hit by a pitch.
Trey Compton singled to bring in his brother and then stole second. With two away,
Evan Berliner singled to left center, scoring
Trey Compton and bringing Elmhurst within one at 4-3.
Chicago put the game away with five runs in the eighth inning.
Havel and Berliner led the Bluejays with a pair of hits. Luzzi finished with six innings, allowing four hits and three runs (one earned).
Nick Drago pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing five runs in the eighth.
Chris Eberhart got the final two outs of the game.
Brzostowski recorded a game-high three hits for the Maroons, while Michael Davis finished with three RBIs. Joe Liberman recorded the win, tossing 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits and an unearned run.
Elmhurst looks to snap its two-game losing streak this weekend against Illinois Wesleyan University. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
