March 27, 2006

Chicago Wins Eight of 10 in Florida

CHICAGO -- The University of Chicago softball team posted an 8-2 record during its season-opening 10-game swing in Fort Myers, Florida, from March 19-24.

Chicago 3, Middlebury 1 (Mar. 19)
Junior pitcher Petra Wade (Batavia, Ill./ Batavia) scattered four hits and fanned five en route to the complete game victory in the Maroons' 2006 debut. Sophomore right fielder Cassie Wierenga (Worth, Ill./ Shepard) collected a pair of hits, including a home run.

Chicago 6, Babson 5 (Mar. 19)
Senior first baseman Rachel Cohen (Barrington, Ill./ Barrington) drove in senior third baseman Kayti Fuhr (Taylor Ridge, Ill./ Rockridge) for the winning run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Fuhr doubled to lead off the frame. Senior designated hitter Kate Rhodes (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./ Detroit Country Day) went 3-for-3 with three RBIs as the Maroons rallied from a 5-0 deficit.

Chicago 4, Worcester State 0 (Mar. 20)
Wade and senior Courtney Uchytil (Windsor, Calif./ Windsor) combined on a two-hit shutout. Wade threw three hitless innings, before Uchytil came on to allow just two hits over the final four frames to collect her first career victory. Rhodes led a 10-hit attack with two hits and a pair of RBIs.

Chicago 1, Grinnell 0 (Mar. 20)
Wade notched her first shutout of the year, scattering five hits and two walks as the Maroons extended their season-opening winning streak to four games. Wierenga drew a bases-loaded walk with one out in the top of the seventh for the game's lone run.

Wellesley 2, Chicago 1 (Mar. 21)
Wade yielded just three hits and fanned seven over eight innings, but took the loss as Chicago fell for the first time. The Maroons' lone run came in the second inning on an RBI-single off the bat of Wierenga.

Union 6, Chicago 3 (Mar. 21)
Union tallied four times in the top of the fourth as Chicago dropped back-to-back games. The Maroons managed only four hits.

Chicago 4, Smith 0 (Mar. 23)
For the second time on the trip, Wade posted a complete-game shutout. She allowed only two hits without a walk for her third win of the week. Wade also contributed an RBI, as did Cohen and Rhodes.

Chicago 8, New Paltz 0 (Mar. 23)
Wierenga and sophomore left fielder Dominique Marshall (Westerville, Ohio/ Columbus School for Girls) each belted home runs as the Maroons notched their second straight shutout win. Wade tossed four scoreless frames before Uchytil came on for the final two innings. Wierenga, Marshall, and junior shortstop Jessica Mayhew (Plymouth, N.H./ Plymouth) each collected two RBIs.

On Mar. 24, the Maroons notched wins over Carleton (9-2) and Thomas (4-3) to close out the trip with an 8-2 overall record. Statistics for the final two games will be forthcoming.

Statistics