CHICAGO -- In its final appearance of the 2009 campaign, the University of Chicago softball team split a doubleheader with Wheaton (Ill.) College Tuesday at Stagg Field. The Maroons won the opener 1-0 before dropping a 6-4 decision in game two.

Freshman pitcher Sarah Neuhaus (Berkeley, Calif./ Berkeley) tossed her sixth shutout of the year and improved her record to 9-6 as she scattered seven hits in Tuesday's first game.

Sophomore pinch-hitter Lori Knapp (Chicago, Ill./ St. Ignatius) led off the bottom of the seventh with a base hit. A Neuhaus single and a walk to senior shortstop Jen Jacobson (Schaumburg, Ill./ Conant) loaded the bases before junior third baseman Kathleen Duffy (Hoffman Estates, Ill./ Barrington) delivered the game-winning hit.

Wheaton's Ainsley McCullough took the loss (9-9), despite allowing just the one run on seven hits.

Wheaton (18-21) built a 5-0 lead after four frames and held on for a 6-4 victory in the nightcap.

A solo home run by Wheaton pitcher Mandy Brockman in the top of the fourth gave the Thunder a 5-0 advantage. Chicago answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run double off the bat of freshman second baseman Julia Schneider (Edgewater, N.J./ Dwight-Englewood) and RBIs from sophomore left fielder Caitlin Romano (Bealeton, Va./ Liberty) and Neuhaus.

Brockman (7-10) allowed only one earned run over 4.2 innings to notch the win. McCullough recorded the final seven outs en route to earning the save.

Junior pitcher Lauren White (Oakland, Calif./ Bentley School) took the loss. She was charged with three earned runs over four frames.

Chicago finished the season with a 14-14 record.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2