From University of Chicago Athletics
A two-run double in the 12th inning provided the winning tallies for the University of Chicago softball team, which went 1-1 against Elmhurst College on Wednesday.
The Maroons moved their record to 23-12. The Bluejays concluded their season at 19-19.
Game One – UChicago 7, Elmhurst 5
The opening contest was a back-and-forth affair all the way through. Each run scored garnered a response from the other side. UChicago senior third base Maggie O'Hara got things started with a RBI double in the top of the first, and Elmhurst answered by scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first.
Stranded runners proved pivotal. The Bluejays ended the first and fourth innings with the bases loaded, then left two more runners on base in the fifth and sixth. All told, Elmhurst totaled 12 runners left on base.
With two outs in the top of the third, UChicago strung together three-straight singles to fill the bags. Two runs scored on a subsequent error. Elmhurst tied it right back up with RBI single and an error on the same play in the fourth.
In the fifth, sophomore outfielder Serena Moss put down a lead-off bunt single. After moving up via sacrifice bunt, she came all the way home when sophomore outfielder Maeve Garvey knocked a single through the right side to make it 4-3.
The Bluejays captured the lead in the sixth with a run-scoring double and single. Freshman pitcher Megan Stoppelmanworked out of any further damage by coming in relief and securing the final out of the inning.
Down to their final at-bats in the seventh, senior outfielder Anna Woolery provided the spark with a triple to left field. Garvey immediately followed up with a single to center field that tied the game at 5-5.
The game headed to extra innings, and both offenses were strangled from that point on. Elmhurst put runners on second and third with one out in the eighth, but a double play kept the contest knotted.
Finally in the top of the 12th, UChicago put two runners on for O'Hara. The senior delivered with a double to left to give the visitors a 7-5 lead. Stoppelman put the final three batters down in order to clinch the win and improve her season record to 11-3.
The Maroons piled up 15 hits, but also committed four errors defensively. Garvey hit 4-for-6 with two RBI – her fourth game this season with four hits. O'Hara went 3-for-6 with three RBI and a pair of doubles. Woolery was 3-for-4 and Moss tallied two hits and a stolen base.
Junior Molly Moran pitched the opening 5.2 innings. Her pitching line included three earned runs, nine hits, six walks and five strikeouts. Stoppelman accounted for the final 6.1 innings with six strikeouts and only one hit allowed.
Game Two – Elmhurst 9, UChicago 6
Two singles and a double steal started game two on a high note for UChicago. O'Hara stroked a RBI single to center that plated one and another came in on a wild pitch. Sophomore first base Carly Schulz registered a RBI groundout and sophomore pitcher Jordyne Prussak connected with a RBI single of her own to push the advantage to 4-0.
However, Elmhurst put up five runs over the next two innings thanks to five walks and four hits. The Maroons tied it back up on Woolery's single in the fourth and sophomore second base Colleen Bennett's groundout recaptured the lead at 6-5 in the fifth.
But the Bluejays ultimately struck the fatal blow. With the bases loaded in the sixth, a triple cleared the bases. Trailing 9-6 in the seventh, UChicago put three runners on the base paths to keep things interesting. A groundout ended the rally and ensured a doubleheader split.
In the final stats, UChicago recorded 12 hits. Woolery, Schulz and Bennett all went 2-for-4 with one RBI each. Stoppelman was 2-for-3 at the plate. Aggression on the bases led to five steals, including two each by Moss and Woolery.
Prussak started the game, going one inning and allowing four runs. Stoppelman (11-4) pitched five innings of relief, totaling five runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts.