May 11, 2006

Chicago Defeats Coe 1-0 in NCAA Opener

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -- Junior pitcher Petra Wade (Batavia, Ill./ Batavia) threw a three-hit shutout, and freshman second baseman Jen Jacobson (Schaumburg, Ill. / Conant) drove in the game's lone run as the University of Chicago softball team defeated Coe College 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Seed Four Regional Thursday at Augustana (Ill.) College.

Chicago (20-13) plated the only run of the game in the top of the third inning. Junior shortstop Jessica Mayhew (Plymouth, N.H./ Plymouth) led off with a base hit, stole second with no one out, and swiped third base after one out. Jacobson followed with a fielder's choice to score Mayhew.

Wade struck out nine batters while allowing just one walk en route to her school record-tying 19th victory of the year (19-7). Wade, who notched her sixth shutout of the season, did not allow a Coe (34-11) runner to reach third base on the afternoon.

Coe hurler Ellie Schultz (21-7) yielded five hits and one walk while collecting four strikeouts. Second baseman Rachel Brinkman had all three of the Kohawks' hits, including a two-out double in the second inning.

With the victory, Chicago advances to a winners' bracket contest Friday against the winner of Thursday's game between host Augustana and Hope College. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.

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