For Immediate Release
April 17, 2005

Maroons Drop Three of Four at Illinois Wesleyan Tournament

Bloomington, Ill. -- The 12th-ranked University of Chicago softball team posted a 1-3 mark at the Illinois Wesleyan University Tournament on Saturday and Sunday.

The Maroons opened the tournament with a 9-6 extra-innings decision over Maryville (Mo.) University, which extended Chicago's winning streak to 15 games.

Chicago (19-4) then fell to Hope College 6-2, Fontbonne University 8-1, and top-ranked Washington (Mo.) University 2-1.

Chicago 9, Maryville (Mo.) 6 (4/16/05)
Junior catcher Randi Leppla (Germantown, Ohio/ Valley View) drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth inning. Junior pitcher Hannah Roberts (Scottsville, Ky./ Allen County-Scottsville), who earned the win with three and one-third innings of scoreless relief, sent the game into extra frames with an RBI double in the top of the seventh.

Hope 6, Chicago 2 (4/16/05)
The Flying Dutch tagged sophomore starter Lauren Hula (East Lansing, Mich./ East Lansing) for three runs in the first inning en route to the 6-2 win. Sophomore right fielder Nancy Bugajski (Chicago Heights, Ill./ Marian Catholic) went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Fontbonne 8, Chicago 1 (4/17/05)
The Maroons managed just four hits as they suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Sophomore pitcher Petra Wade (Batavia, Ill./ Batavia), who collected Chicago's lone RBI, lost for the first time in her last seven decisions.

Washington (Mo.) 2, Chicago 1 (4/17/05)
The Bears' Jamie Kressell belted a pair of home runs, including a game-winning blast in the bottom of the seventh, to lift top-ranked Washington past the Maroons. Roberts (12-1) dropped her first decision of the year, despite allowing just four hits with eight strikeouts.