DECATUR, Ill. – The University of Chicago softball team fell victim to a pair of big innings as Millikin University won both ends of a doubleheader 5-2 and 6-3 on Tuesday evening.

The Maroons dropped to 14-10 and the Big Blue improved to 16-10.

Game One – Millikin 5, UChicago 2

UChicago looked poised to get on the scoreboard first, loading the bases in the first inning. But Millikin escaped the jam unscathed and countered with four runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame. The deficit grew to 5-0 after a leadoff homer in the third inning.

The Maroons found their offense in the top of the fifth. Two singles and two stolen bases put runners in scoring position. Sophomore shortstop Emma Nelson brought in one with a groundout to second base, and junior outfielder Maeve Garvey plated another with a sacrifice fly to right field. But that would be all the visitors would get as the Big Blue closed out the game by a 5-2 margin.

UChicago tallied six hits and one error. First-year catcher Gabi Angellotti and junior first base Carly Schulz both hit 1-for-2.

Senior pitcher Molly Moran took the loss to run her season record to 7-4. In six innings of work, her pitching line included five runs, six hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

Game Two – Millikin 6, UChicago 3

UChicago got rolling right away in the nightcap. The score was quickly 2-0 in the first inning thanks to runs batted in by junior outfielder Serena Moss on a single and first-year third base Skye Collins on a double.

The deficit was halved by the Big Blue in the bottom of the second and eventually tied in the fifth on a single. The home side broke away in that frame with a three-run double that made it 5-2. Once more insurance tally came around in the sixth at 6-2.

Schulz singled down the right-field line to drive in one in the seventh. However, Millikin got the final out to end it.

Offensively, the Maroons finished with eight hits. Garvey went 3-for-4 at the dish with a double while Schulz hit 2-for-4.

Sophomore pitcher Megan Stoppelman (1-5 record) started the opening five innings (5 R, 9 H, 4 BB, 2 K). Junior Jordyne Prussak pitched one inning of relief (1 R, 1 H, 1 BB).