April 1, 2006

Maroons Split Twinbill in Home Debut

CHICAGO -- The University of Chicago softball team opened the home portion of its 2006 schedule with a doubleheader split against North Central College Saturday at Stagg Field. Chicago took game one 4-1 before falling 9-0 in the second game.

In the opening contest, junior pitcher Petra Wade (Batavia, Ill./ Batavia) raised her record to 10-1 with a six-hit complete game. She fanned seven while allowing just one walk en route to her seventh consecutive victory.

Sophomore left fielder Dominique Marshall (Westerville, Ohio/ Columbus School for Girls) gave the Maroons a 1-0 lead when she led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run -- her second of the season. Sophomore right fielder Cassie Wierenga (Worth, Ill./ Shepard) added a run-scoring single later in the inning.

An RBI double off the bat of senior third baseman Kayti Fuhr (Taylor Ridge, Ill./ Rockridge) gave the Maroons a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Chicago added another run in the fourth off a North Central error.

Stacey Smith's third inning round tripper accounted for the Cardinals' lone run.

In the nightcap, North Central (12-4) hurler Lori Potacki scattered three hits and belted a three-run home run as the Cardinals rolled to a 9-0 win. Katie Gannon, Jenna Congdon, and Jackie Nelson also homered.

Senior pitcher Courtney Uchytil (Windsor, Calif./ Windsor) took the loss (1-1) after allowing four runs -- three earned -- in two and one-third innings.

Fuhr went 2-for-3 in game two as Chicago (11-3) fell for the first time in eight games.

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