Softball

CHICAGO - Junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) went 3-for-6 at the plate with two runs scored and three stolen bases, but the Mount Mary University softball team dropped a pair of games at University of Chicago, 7-4 and 4-2, at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field Tuesday evening.

The losses drop Mount Mary to 2-17 on the season, while Chicago improves to 5-10 overall.

Game 1 - UChicago 7, MMU 4

The Blue Angels jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but couldn't hang on as the host Maroons surged to the opening game victory.

After six consecutive combined outs in the first inning, freshman Brianna Lupa (Plano, Ill./Plano), junior Taylor Hienbuecher (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) and freshman Marissa Heraly (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) recorded three consecutive singles in the top of the second.

With the bases juiced, sophomore Kaitlyn Gilpin (Lyons, Ill./Lyons Township) broke open the scoring with MMU's fourth straight single—this one to right—to score Lupa from third. Senior Hannah Harnsberger's (Hillsboro, Ore./Jesuit) fielder's choice cut down Hienbuecher at the plate, but an ensuing errant throw to first scored Heraly. Finally, a close play at first after a near-perfectly placed bunt from junior Jacklyn Mozdzen (Wautoma, Wis./Wautoma) scored Gilpin from third to put the visitors up 3-0 early.

Chicago responded quickly in the home half of the second, scoring four unearned runs off three hits and a gut wrenching three Blue Angel errors to take the lead.

MMU tied the game up in the third thanks to a leadoff single and stolen base from Strusz, who eventually scored on a pair of groundouts by sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge) and Lupa.

The Maroons recorded a single, double, and single in the home half of the third, then added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to cap off their scoring as the Blue Angels went quietly in their final three at-bats.

Gilpin took the loss in the circle, striking out one while giving up 12 total hits and just three earned runs.

Game 2 - UChicago 4, MMU 2

It was a pitching duel in game two, with each team scrapping for just seven hits. However, it was the UChicago hurler who proved most dominant, striking out 12 Blue Angels total in a 4-2 decision.

Chicago started things off with a literal bang in game two, blasting a deep no-doubt homer to left in the bottom of the second inning.

Mount Mary would manufacture a response in the third, again using a Strusz walk and stolen base. Ecker's drive through left side was enough to score Strusz from second, locking the game at 1-1.

Harnsberger and Heraly added back-to-back singles in the fourth, but the Maroons evaded the threat. They then put their own response together with two runs off four singles before Lupa slammed the door shut with a big strikeout to keep the game within reach. A leadoff triple would lead to another run in the fifth, making it 4-1 after six complete.

The Blue Angels weren't quite done yet, as freshman Sam Allen (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) picked up a two-out, RBI single to score sophomore Shawna Butler (Ely, Minn./Ely), but it was not enough as UChicago hung on for the double-header sweep.

Lupa, in her 10th complete game, took the losing decision and fell to 2-9 on the year. She gave up seven hits and issued just one walk while striking out four.

On Deck for MMU

The Blue Angels will travel to Naperville, Ill., for a double-header against North Central University Friday. First pitch at Shanower Family Field is slated for 3 p.m.