April 27, 2007

Maroons Sweep Aurora in Key Regional Clash

CHICAGO -- In a matchup of Great Lakes Region contenders, the University of Chicago softball team swept a doubleheader from Aurora University Friday at Stagg Field, taking game one 3-0 and game two 6-2.

Chicago (22-8) ranks seventh in the most recent Great Lakes Region poll, while Aurora (31-7) stands fifth. The Spartans began the day riding a 20-game winning streak.

In the opening contest, senior pitcher Petra Wade (Batavia, Ill./ Batavia) struck out a season-high 11 batters en route to a three-hit shutout. Wade raised her season record to 13-5 and with her 48th career victory moved to within one win of tying the Chicago all-time record.

An RBI double off the bat of freshman right fielder Lauren White (Oakland, Calif./ Bentley School) in the bottom of the first inning gave the Maroons the only run they would need.

Chicago added two more runs in the second inning on a solo home run by junior first baseman Cassie Wierenga (Worth, Ill./ Shepard) -- her fourth of the year -- and a run-scoring double from sophomore third baseman Jen Jacobson (Schaumburg, Ill./ Conant).

Aurora starter Nicole Capone (13-4) lasted only an inning and two-thirds.

Aurora scored a pair of unearned runs off senior hurler Lauren Hula (East Lansing, Mich./ East Lansing) in the fourth inning of game two before senior center fielder Nancy Bugajski's (Chicago, Ill./ Marian Catholic) two-run double in the bottom of the frame evened the score.

Junior catcher Vanessa Pineros (Mukilteo, Wash./ Kamiak) sparked a three-run Chicago outburst in the fifth when she led off with her second home run of the year off starter Brittany Butcher (12-3). Junior left fielder Dominique Marshall (Westerville, Ohio/ Columbus School for Girls) and Wade followed with RBIs as the Maroons took a 5-2 lead after five innings.

White (5-3) earned the victory in relief of Hula. She allowed just one hit over three and two-thirds innings.

Chicago extended its winning streak to four games overall and improved to 4-2 at Stagg Field.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2