CHICAGO, Ill. – In the final home games of the regular season, the University of Chicago softball team lost twice to Elmhurst College 2-1 and 6-2 on Friday. The No. 21-ranked Maroons dropped to 23-7 while the Bluejays moved to 13-15.

UChicago's four seniors were recognized between games as part of Senior Day – outfielder Kaitlyn Carpenter, first baseman/utility player Julia Covello, third baseman Maddie McManus and catcher Zoe Oliver-Grey. Over the past four years, the senior class has a cumulative record of 90-45 (.667 winning percentage).

Game One – Elmhurst 2, UChicago 1

The Maroons put the first two batters of the game on base and moved them both into scoring position. Sophomore pitcher Jordan Poole then laid down a bunt that scored the run from third base and gave the home team a 1-0 lead.

That was all the scoring UChicago would manage the rest of the game. The Maroons threatened to score again in the second inning with runners on second and third, but a pop up ended the inning.

Elmhurst was ready to break through in the fourth inning by loading the bases with one out. But a lineout to the pitcher resulted in a double play to squash the threat.

Poole kept hurling zeros in the pitching circle until the seventh inning. The first three runners reached base and the tying run came in on a walk. A fielding error brought in the go-ahead run to put the Bluejays up 2-1.

Sophomore shortstop Kristin Lopez doubled in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but UChicago could not get her to home plate as the game ended in Elmhurst's favor. Lopez went 2-for-3 at the plate amongst UChicago's seven hits in the game. The Maroons also made two errors defensively.

Poole (14-2) took the loss in seven innings, allowing four hits, two runs (one earned) and three walks. She also tallied six strikeouts.

Game Two – Elmhurst 6, UChicago 2

With momentum from the game one victory, Elmhurst landed the opening blow in the second inning of game two. A RBI single and run-scoring groundout made the score 2-0 for the visitors. The Bluejays then added a three-run double in the fifth inning to go up 5-0.

The Maroons broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth. Freshman infielder Maggie O'Hara doubled and Lopez immediately followed by slamming a home run over the left field fence. Elmhurst added one more run off an error in the seventh and finished up the sweep in the bottom of the frame.

UChicago ended up with nine hits and committed two errors. Lopez went 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. O'Hara was 2-for-3 at the plate and sophomore outfielder Devan Parkison was 2-for-4.

Junior pitcher Tabbetha Bohac (9-5) was saddled with the loss in seven innings. Only two of the six runs were earned, and her stat line included nine hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

NEXT GAMES:

• Sunday, Apr. 27 – UChicago at Carthage College (DH), 1 PM