SATURDAY LIVE LINKS

LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS
GAME NOTES
PREVIEW

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The University of Chicago softball team dropped the opening game of the series to #13 Case Western Reserve on Friday afternoon with a 1-0 loss.

The Maroons had the first chance to strike in the opening inning. After a Sedona Ding single, the freshman swiped second base to put a runner in scoring position with just one out, but they were unable to bring her home.

Paige Heffke was lights out in the circle for UChicago as she faced the minimum number of batters through 3.2 innings. She allowed one hit and one walk, but the Maroons were able to turn a double play in both situations to get out of trouble. However, the Spartans took the lead on a solo home run over the centerfield fence on the first pitch of the fifth inning.

UChicago had another chance to level the score in the top of the sixth inning. After a leadoff walk by Natalie Antin, she was moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Audrey Hui, and she moved to third on a groundout by Maya Martinez. However, she was left stranded at third as Paige Zvokel struck out in her pinch-hit opportunity.

Heffke allowed just three total hits and four total base runners in one of her best pitching outings of the season in the loss. Ding and Antin were the lone UChicago players to record a hit in the game as they fell 1-0.

With the loss, the Maroons fall back to .500 at 14-14 on the season. The team returns to action in Cleveland on Saturday for the second and third games of the UAA series.