WHEATON, Ill. – The University of Chicago softball team found its offensive groove on Thursday, recording 21 hits combined in a doubleheader road sweep of Wheaton College.

The Maroons improved to 17-11, and the Thunder fell to 7-31.

Game One – UChicago 8, Wheaton 0

UChicago jumped all over Wheaton in the opening inning and took a 4-0 lead. Back-to-back RBI doubles by senior Sara Koniewicz and junior Maeve Garvey got the offense rolling, while a third run came around on an error. First-year Abby Hayes contributed a RBI single of her own to right field.

The visitors expanded their advantage in the top of the sixth. Three-straight singles, capped by a knock from sophomore Emma Nelson, made it 5-0. With the bases loaded and two outs, first-year Gabi Angellotti singled in two runners with a drive to center field. Junior Serena Moss then tallied a RBI single of her own.

With the eight-run lead in hand, senior pitcher Molly Moran finished off her first shutout of the season. Moran (9-4 record) only allowed three hits and two walks while striking out four in six innings of work.

The Maroons tallied 10 hits and made one error. Nelson and Hayes both hit 2-for-3 with one RBI. Moss went 2-for-4 with one RBI.

Game Two – UChicago 13, Wheaton 4

Seven errors by Wheaton in the nightcap led to eight unearned runs. After an early 3-3 tie, UChicago exploded for five tallies in the fifth innings, three in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

Garvey doubled through the left side to kick off the scoring and Angellotti followed right up with a two-run single of her own. The Thunder countered with a trio of runs off a bunt, a groundout and a single in the bottom of the third.

Two infield errors helped extend the fifth inning, sandwiched around a two-run double from Hayes. Sophomore Holli Jones also singled one in to make the score 8-3.

An error, a bases-loaded walk and a single by sophomore Megan Stoppelman kept the offense rolling at 11-3. In the seventh, Koniewicz's double and Garvey's single provided the final scores of the day.

Offensively, UChicago racked up 11 hits, with Garvey going a perfect 3-for-3 with two walks and two RBI. Koniewicz and Angellotti were both 2-for-4.

Stoppelman (2-6 record) earned the win with four innings of relief in the circle. Her pitching line included one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Junior Jordyne Prussak hurled the first three innings of the game.

NEXT GAMES:

• Friday, April 27 @ 4:00 PM (ET) – UChicago at Kalamazoo College (DH)