LEESBURG, Fla. – Unearned runs came back to bite the University of Chicago softball team in Sunday losses to St. Catherine University and Williams College down in Florida.

The Maroons ran their record to 4-2 on the season.

Game One – St. Catherine 8, UChicago 3

UChicago got off to another fast start, tallying two runs in the top of the first inning. First-year Laila Sims singled to center to lead off the game, stole second base and then scored on a triple to right by senior Katie O'Donnell. Two batters later, junior Julia Folkl cracked an RBI double to right field.

Errors began to become a factor in the bottom of the second. Two defensive miscues helped load the bases, and three St. Catherine runners crossed home plate thanks to a hit-by-pitch and a double.

All told, UChicago committed five errors which led to six unearned runs. St. Catherine tallied three runs on one hit in the bottom of the fifth, and then added a pair in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-2.

A double-play groundout plated the game's last run in the top of the seventh.

Sims and O'Donnell posted two hits apiece as UChicago's lineup finished with nine hits.

Sophomore pitcher Delaney Romanchick (1-1 record) absorbed the loss in her four-inning start. She allowed two earned runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Sophomore Delaney Choi (1.2 IP) and senior Bethany Regnerus (0.1 IP) also made appearances in relief.

Game Two – Williams 11, UChicago 7

In the day's second contest, the Maroons jumped ahead 4-1 in the early going. O'Donnell knocked RBI singles in both the first and second innings, while senior Savannah Pinedo and Folkl posted run-scoring singles of their own.

However, errors came into effect once again for UChicago. Williams took advantage of six Maroon errors which led to nine unearned runs. The Ephs scored in each frame from the second through sixth innings, including a six-run outburst in the top of the fifth.

Meanwhile, O'Donnell continued to lead the offensive effort. The senior supplied an RBI sacrifice fly as well as a two-run single. Overall, she batted 3-for-3 with five RBI.

The Maroons tallied 13 hits, as four players had multiple hits. Folkl went 2-for-2 with two walks. Pinedo was 2-for-4 and senior Maddy Mudrick batted 2-for-5 with a steal.

First-year pitcher Paige Heffke (2-1 record) was saddled with the loss. The rookie went 4.2 innings with two earned runs, 12 hits and two strikeouts. Senior Olivia Dunne tossed 2.1 innings of relief with one unearned run, two hits, one walk and one strikeout.

NEXT GAMES:

• Tuesday, March 22 @ 4:15 PM (ET) – UChicago vs. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (at Clermont, Fla.)
• Tuesday, March 22 @ 6:15 PM (ET) – UChicago vs. Bates College (at Clermont, Fla.)