LAKE FOREST, Ill. – In its first games back on Illinois soil, the University of Chicago softball team lost twice at Lake Forest College by scores of 9-1 and 2-1 on Thursday.

The Maroons dropped to 8-6 and the Foresters improved to 15-3.

Game One – Lake Forest 9, UChicago 1

Junior outfielder Devan Parkison set the table in the game's first at-bat with a single. After moving to third base, Parkison came around to score when junior third baseman Kathleen Kohm struck an RBI single.

Both pitchers held the opposing offenses in check and zeros populated the scoreboard until Lake Forest rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning. A sacrifice fly and a single plated two runs to give the Foresters a 2-1 lead. The home team struck the big blow soon after with a two-out grand slam to go up 6-1.

Lake Forest loaded the bases once again in the bottom of the sixth and pushed across three runs to end the game via run rule at 9-1.

Starting freshman pitcher Molly Moran (3-3) took the loss in 4-2/3 innings. She tallied five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. Senior pitcher Tabbetha Bohac threw one inning of relief with three runs, two hits, four walks and two strikeouts. UChicago was held to three hits and committed one error.

Game Two – Lake Forest 2, UChicago 1

The Foresters struck early in the second game with a two-run home run in the first inning. Junior pitcher Jordan Poole held Lake Forest down from there and subsequently posted five-straight scoreless frames.

UChicago cut the deficit in half in the top of the third inning. Sophomore shortstop Maggie O'Hara smacked a RBI single to drive in Parkison to make the score 2-1. The Maroons ended up with eight hits in the game, but couldn't find the equalizing run.

O'Hara, Kohm and Bohac each hit 2-for-3 at the plate. Poole (3-2) was the losing pitcher with two runs on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts in her six innings.

NEXT GAMES:

• Friday, Apr. 3 – Lawrence University at UChicago (DH), 3 PM