CHICAGO, Ill. – The University of Chicago softball team utilized a strong pitching performance and opportunistic offense to win the second game of a doubleheader against No. 8-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University on Monday. IWU won game one 7-1 while UChicago triumphed 4-1 in game two.

The Maroons moved to 11-13 on the season and the Titans ran their record to 23-5.

Game One – IWU 7, UChicago 1

Defensive mistakes proved costly in game one for the home team as five errors led to five unearned runs. IWU capitalized on the miscues with three runs in the third inning and went on to add one in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth inning.

The Maroons tallied their run in the bottom of the second inning when freshman pitcher Molly Moran posted a RBI groundout. Moran (3-5) threw all seven innings while taking the loss in the pitching circle. She allowed nine hits and four walks while striking out four.

Offensively, UChicago recorded six hits. Freshman first baseman Alyssa Stolmack went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Game Two – UChicago 4, IWU 1

The Maroons turned the momentum around with a sharper performance in game two. Junior pitcher Jordan Poole kept the potent Titan offense in check and only allowed five hits in her seven innings. IWU came into the day with team batting average of .367 – ranked 19th in NCAA Division III.

The two teams exchanged runs in the third inning. The Titans doubled and then scored on a throwing error to get on the scoreboard first. But the Maroons got one right back when junior outfielder Devan Parkison stole home on a double steal.

Illinois Wesleyan loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth with two singles and a walk. But Poole held steady and struck out the next batter looking to escape the jam.

UChicago backed Poole up in the bottom of the fifth with a trio of runs. After a runner was thrown out at home plate on a fielder's choice, sophomore outfielder Maggie O'Hara lined a two-run double to center field. Junior third baseman Kathleen Kohm followed right up with a RBI single through the left side to make the score 4-1.

Poole evened her season record at 5-5 with the complete-game victory. The junior allowed one unearned run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

The home team finished with seven hits and one error in the contest. O'Hara was 2-for-4 with one RBI and Kohm hit 1-for-2 with two RBI.

NEXT GAMES:

• Thursday, Apr. 16 – UChicago at Aurora University (DH), 3 PM