CHICAGO - St. Norbert College returned to action with a pair of non-conference losses to the University of Chicago by scores of 2-1 in eight innings and 10-4 at J. Kyle Anderson Field.
The Green Knights (6-5) lost a pitchers' duel in the opener when Chicago's Will Benner hit a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth to plate Eisuke Tanioka to win the scheduled seven-inning game.
Chicago scored a run in the first inning, with the run holding up until St. Norbert tied the game with a single run in the fourth inning.
Jack Maastricht led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by
Peyton Jack.
Adam Cootway's single put runners on the corners, and
Sebastien Dubois followed with a single to knot the score at 1-1.
The Green Knights had a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning, but a scoring try on a potential sacrifice fly was cut down at home plate.
St. Norbert had five hits, while Chicago had four. No Green Knight had a multi-hit game.
Tommy Maher started and went five innings, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Nick Brauer took the loss, allowing two hits with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.
In the nightcap, St. Norbert held a 3-1 lead in the third inning, but Chicago scored six times in its half of the third to break the game open.
The Green Knights took a 1-0 lead on
Keagan McCarthy's solo home run in the second inning. The Maroons tied the game at 1-1 with a single run in the second inning. St. Norbert scored two runs on two hits in the third inning, with
Nick Volz posting a run-scoring single and Maastricht a sacrifice fly.
Chicago would answer with six runs on four hits and one error in the third inning for a 7-3 lead. St. Norbert scored an unearned run in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 7-4, but Chicago scored three times in the sixth to salt the game away.
St. Norbert had eight hits, with McCarthy going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and
Jacob Rajkovich going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Sam Fonder started and took the loss, allowing four hits and five earned runs with three walks and two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
