KENOSHA, Wis. – University of Chicago's softball team notched its fourth-straight victory with a sweep of Carthage College on the road on Tuesday. 

The Maroons (13-4-1) used solid pitching and timely hitting to defeat Carthage 5-2 and 5-4 in the two matchups, respectively. 

Game One

Paige Heffke (7-2) earned the victory with a complete game, scattering eight hits while striking out six and allowing just two earned runs. The Maroons trailed 1-0 early, but erased that deficit in the top of the second inning with five runs to take hold of the game.

In the second, UChicago's Olivia Cataldo produced a one-out triple. Alina Yazek followed that with a walk and steal of second base, setting the stage for the big inning. Ava Sinai singled in Cataldo and a short time later, Yazek scored on an error to make it 2-1.

The Maroons continued to create action on the bases as Anna Jensen was hit by a pitch to force in Sinai. Julia Folkl then burst the game open with a two-run single, which scored Laila Sims and Paige Zvokel.

Game Two 

In the second game, UChicago scored two in the top of the first courtesy of a Laila Sims leadoff homer to left field and Cataldo's RBI double to center. Carthage then responded with four in the bottom of the first to take its first lead of the contest.

Delaney Romanchick pitched 4.1 effective innings, striking out five, to keep the game within striking distance. UChicago capitalized with a run in the top of the second and one in the top of fifth. Jensen knocked an RBI single in the second and Cataldo had an RBI double in the fifth to tie the game at 4-all. In the pivotal sixth, Sims walked with two outs and then stole second. Jensen delivered a clutch single to left field to score Sims to give the Maroons the lead. 

Delaney Choi (2-0) kept the Firebirds off the scoreboard with 2.0 scoreless innings to seal the win for the Maroons. Heffke earned a save after she came back in to retire the final batter of the game.

Next Games

UChicago hosts Carroll for a doubleheader on Thursday, April 13 at 3 p.m. CT.