Box Score

LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University baseball team came from down 6-0 to surpass the University of Chicago 7-6 in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon.

Chicago provided plenty of early opportunities against Benedictine starter Nick Diessner. The visitors, playing for the first time since returning from Florida, struck for a single run in the second and batted around in the third to score five times and grab a 6-0 lead.

Diessner settled down and did not allow a hit the rest of the way, allowing just one baserunner in his final four innings. The lefty tossed seven innings and walked four while striking out six, allowing Benedictine to slowly chip away.

The Eagles had problems against Chicago starter Matt O'Connor, but finally broke through in the fifth with three runs. Steve Cocat opened the inning with a single and moved up on a wild pitch. Tom Higgins logged an RBI double to right to score the first run. Another wild pitch moved Higgins to third for Chris Wanderling, who singled home the second run. Wanderling stole second and came around to score on a groundout from Nick Karakosta.

Cocat singled home a run in the sixth following a two-out walk to Tim Gindville. Mike Luschen entered as a pinch runner and quickly stole second before scoring on Cocat's strike. O'Connor struck out eight in the game but left in the seventh.

Benedictine took the lead for the first time by scoring three runs in the eighth. John Cervantes reached on a two base errorand Ryan Mullin was hit by a pitch. Luschen recorded an RBI single in his first at bat to bring Benedictine within a run. Cocat was involved with the tying run scoring as well. The senior dropped down a bunt single and when the throw went awry at first, the tying run jogged across. Higgins put the Eagles ahead with a sacrifice fly.

Mike Taccona picked up the win in relief by working the eighth. Spencer Lehmann was able to close the door for his second save with a perfect ninth. Benedictine was held to just eight hits in the game, three of which came from Cocat.

Benedictine (12-4) will host Maranatha in a doubleheader at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. The games were originally scheduled to be played in Wisconsin.