CHICAGO, Ill. -- The University of Chicago softball team picked up a doubleheader split with the Calvin Knights on Wednesday night in their home opener.

The Maroons opened the scoring in the first inning of the doubleheader after Audrey Hui ripped a single to left field, advanced to second on the throw into the infield, and crossed home plate with Sedona Ding on a throwing error by the Knights for a little league home run.

The Knights cut the lead in half in the second inning, but it did not take long for UChicago to get that run back with an RBI single by Paige Zvokel to bring home Natalie Antin. In the sixth, the Maroons added another insurance run as Sedona Ding ripped a two-out single to bring home Laila Sims for a 4-1 lead.

Paige Heffke was lights out in the circle for UChicago with 5 strikeouts and just 4 hits and one unearned run allowed in her complete game outing. She picks up her seventh win of the season and improves her record to 7-0 in her last seven starts.

The second game featured an old-fashioned pitching duel with Alana Kimball and Emma Ludema dominating in the circle. The Knights were able to strike first in the fourth inning with a two-out RBI double to take a 1-0 lead. Natalie Antin was able to break up the perfect game bid in the fifth inning with a single up the middle. The Maroons then manufactured their own run as Laila Sims had a sacrifice bunt to move Ashlee Boodoo to second. Boodoo then looked to take third on the throw to first, and she was able to score after Calvin threw the ball away.

The 1-1 score line stayed into the seventh inning when the Knights strung five two-out hits together to bring home six runs and hold on for the 7-1 victory. Alana Kimball finished the game with a career-high four strikeouts while allowing just one run on six hits. Madeline Murphy was the lone UChicago player to pick up hits in both contests, going 2-7 on the day.

With the split, the Maroons move to 9-7 on the season. The team returns to their home field on Friday, March 28, as they open UAA play with a three-game series against #18 WashU.