CHICAGO, Ill. -- The University of Chicago softball team downed Lawrence University 9-1 and 10-4 in a nonconference doubleheader on Sunday.
In the opener, the Maroons struck for five runs in the third inning to take control. Nancy Bugajski and Vanessa Pineros both had two-run singles in the inning.
The Maroons added two more runs in the fifth and another in the six, as the game ended in the bottom half of that inning on the eight-run rule.
Lawrence (15-10) managed only four hits, including Megan Butterbrodt's run-scoring single in the fourth.
In the nightcap, the Vikings pounded out 10 hits but managed only four runs even though the Maroons (24-8) committed six errors.
Jenna Reichel, Butterbrodt, Toren Johnson and Lucy Bouressa all had two hits for Lawrence in the nightcap.
Lawrence trailed 3-1 heading to the top fo the fifth when the Vikings scored twice. Johnson and Butterbrodt both had run-scoring singles in the inning.
The Maroons scored in the bottom half of the inning, but Lawrence cut the lead to 5-4 with a run in the top of the sixth. Justine Garbarski walked and later scored on Bouressa's single. The Vikings then loaded the bases but left all three runners stranded.
Chicago put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, with the big blow coming on Jessica Mayhew's two-run homer.
Lawrence returns to action Tuesday when it hosts St. Norbert College in a key Midwest Conference doubleheader. The Vikings need to sweep the Green Knights to earn a berth in the MWC Tournament.