ANGOLA, Ind. – The University of Chicago softball team began NCAA postseason action with a 7-1 loss to Wheaton College on Thursday morning.

The No. 25-ranked Maroons fell to 25-9 and the Thunder improved to 32-12. The two teams played the opening game of the four-team regional, hosted by Trine University. In the double-elimination format, UChicago will next face either Greenville College or Trine at 1:30 PM (ET) on Friday.

With UChicago making its 10th all-time appearance in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship, the Maroons saw a familiar opponent in Wheaton. The two teams played each other just two weeks ago, with UChicago coming away with a pair of matching 1-0 road victories on April 29.

The Thunder ended that scoring drought in the first inning. After a lead-off single, the runner moved to third base on the next two outs. A walk and a pair of singles subsequently gave Wheaton a 2-0 lead. The Thunder nearly added to the advantage by loading the bases in the second inning, but UChicago senior pitcher Jordan Poole reached back and pumped the crucial strikeout to end the threat.

However, Wheaton kept adding to its lead with two in the fourth and three more in the fifth to surge ahead 7-0. UChicago broke into the scoring in the bottom half of the fifth inning, with senior outfielder Devan Parkison reaching on a bunt single with two outs. The catcher tried to make a play, but the throw sailed over first base and allowed Parkison to motor into third base. On the very next batter, Parkison scored standing up after a wild pitch flew over the catcher's outstretched glove.

The two teams went scoreless the rest of the way to finish the game 7-1 in favor of Wheaton. The Maroons compiled four hits and committed two errors on the day.

Poole suffered the loss to move her season record to 8-5. She went 4.1 innings with seven runs (six earned), 10 hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Jordyne Prussak took over in the fifth inning and tossed the final 2.2 innings with three hits, one walk and one strikeout.

NEXT GAME:

• Friday, May 13 – UChicago vs. Greenville College OR Trine University (Angola, Ind.), 1:30 PM (ET)