UChicago Sweeps Doubleheader with Rose-Hulman
The University of Chicago baseball team returned to its winning ways on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Rose-Hulman to kick off their five-game spring break trip.
UChicago opened the doubleheader in epic fashion in the opening game of the doubleheader as Braden Jirovec singled and Erik Rindner ripped a two-run home run over the left field wall. After Michael Gladden was hit by a pitch, Max Wiesner walloped the second home run of the inning to give the Maroons a 4-0 lead.
Rose-Hulman fought back with two runs in the second, but UChicago was able to tack on a fifth run on an RBI double by Nathan Bae to bring home Gladden after his leadoff single. The Maroons would then add more insurance runs in the fifth inning as two walks by Rindner and Gladden started the big inning. Wiesner added his third and fourth RBIs of the day with a two-run double, and Ryan Bhojwani singled him home to stretch the lead to 8-2. Both Jack Sharp and Brady Miller then came around to score on a critical error by the Fightin' Engineers to give UChicago the eight-run advantage.
The Fightin' Engineers got two back in the seventh and one more in the eighth, but a two-run triple by Luke Weston in the ninth brought home both Sharp and Bae to cap off the 12-5 victory.
Corey Savedoff earned his first win in a UChicago uniform as the graduate student went 5.0 innings with two strikeouts and two runs allowed. David Flanagan threw 1.1 innings for the Maroons, and Nicholas Deakin capped off the win with 2.2 innings pitched and just 1 unearned run allowed while striking out three.
In the second game of the day, Rose-Hulman struck first with a two-out, RBI double by Jackson Harms in the bottom of the first inning. The Fightin' Engineers doubled their lead in the third on a solo home run by Jackson Summers. However, UChicago responded with another big inning.
After a leadoff double by Michael Gladden, Max Wiesner drove him home with an RBI single. Harrison Belden followed with an RBI single to bring home Wiesner, and Jack Sharp brought home Nathan Bae, who reached on a single of his own, on a bunt single to put UChicago in front. Luke Weston scored Belden in the next at-bat, and Braden Jirovec scored Sharp on a sacrifice bunt to cap off the five-run inning.
Rose-Hulman would take advantage of two walks and an error by UChicago to get a run back in the sixth, but Wade Hartrick came in with the bases loaded and two outs and struck out the Rose-Hulman batter to slam the door and keep the Maroons in front.
The Fightin' Engineers loaded the bases with no outs on three consecutive walks in the seventh inning, but Charlie Hahn came out of the bullpen to slam the door once again with a run-scoring groundout and another groundout to hold onto the one-run lead.
In the eighth inning, Sharp walked and stole second with two outs, and Jirovec singled him home. One batter later, Erik Rindner brought home Jirovec for the second insurance run of the inning as UChicago stretched the lead to 7-4. In the ninth inning, the Fightin' Engineers got a run back on an RBI double and loaded the bases with one out on back-to-back walks to force the Maroons to turn to the bullpen for the third time in a critical spot. Matthew Richert forced a sacrifice fly to right field and a groundout to shortstop to earn his second career save, sealing the victory for UChicago.
John Butka earned his second win of the season on the hill with 6 strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched while surrendering just two earned runs.
Max Wiesner led the team offensively with four hits, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Nathan Bae also added four hits, and Luke Weston added three hits and three RBIs in the doubleheader sweep. Jack Sharp also scored four runs and stole three bases in the doubleheader as the senior reached base in six of his nine plate appearances with four walks and two singles.
With the wins, the Maroons improve to 5-7 on the season.