By Jami Sponaugle

Chicago, Ill. - At the home of the Chicago White Sox, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks baseball team took on the University of Chicago Maroons in non-conference action at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Under the lights on Tuesday night, the Hawks and Maroons took part in the annual South Side Showdown. The game marked the final non-conference game of the 2023 season for the Hawks. 

Putting up a tough fight, the Hawks (16-16) fell to the Maroons (17-14) 5-3.

Chicago 5 - Illinois Tech 3

• In the bottom of the first, the Hawks got the game going when Matthew Jackson stepped up to bat with two outs. On base already was Connor Blake who had tripled on the previous pitch to left field. Jackson hit a single to bring in Blake and give the Hawks an early 1-0 lead.

• Unfortunately for the Hawks, the lead would not last long. In the top of the second, the Maroons filled the bases with their first three batters. Richard Lu then stepped up to bat and singled, bringing in two runs, leaving runners on first and third. Jack Sharp then singled to bring in one more and give the Maroons a 3-1 lead in the second inning. 

• The Maroons built on their lead in the top of the third. Once again, the Maroons filled the bases with their first three batters. An error on the Hawks allowed two runs to score, giving the Maroons a 5-1 lead. 

• Both sides were held scoreless between the 4th and 7th innings.

• Then, in the bottom of the 8th, the Hawks attempted a comeback. Gutsfeld opened the half inning with a triple. A Brandon Bennitt sac-fly allowed Gutsfeld to score. Blake was then walked followed by a Jackson single to put runners on first and second for the Hawks. Sam Sproule singled to bring in Blake and make it a 2-run game. The Hawks attempted to bring in another run during the next at-bat, but were doubled-up to end the inning. Ultimately, the Hawks were unable to complete a comeback and fell to the Maroons 5-3. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Gutsfeld - 1-for-5, 1 triple, 1 run.

• Blake - 1-for-3, 1 triple, 2 runs.

• David Cooper - 1-for-1, 1 double.

Maroons Standouts

• Blane Soper - 3-for-4, 2 runs

• Jack Golstein - 1-for-5, 1 double, 1 run

• Lu - 1-for-3, 2 RBI's

• Edmund Hogan - winning pitcher - 5.0 innings pitched, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 error, 2 strike outs.

• Hayden Brotz - save - 1.2 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 strike out.

Up Next

The Hawks return to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) action on Saturday when they welcome the Rockford University Regents (8-8, 13-17) to Ed Glancy Field for double header action. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM with game two to follow.