Sophomore pitcher Lexi Miskey set a pair of single-season program records as the third-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team ended the regular season with a doubleheader sweep of the University of Chicago in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field in Chicago. CWRU won the first game 3-1 and prevailed 8-0 in the second game in five innings.

The Spartans end the regular season with a record of 37-3, while the Maroons conclude their campaign at 24-12-1. CWRU will enter the NCAA Tournament needing just one win to match the program record of 38 set in 2018.

Miskey entered the day just one win and five strikeouts away from setting single-season program records in both statistics. She started the first game, allowing no runs over the first four innings, and re-entered the game in the bottom of the seventh to complete the win, her program record 23rd of the season. Miskey (23-1) allowed just two hits in five innings while striking out six and walking four. With one out in the third inning, she struck out Madeline Murphy swinging for her fifth strikeout of the game to set the single-season program record.

Former Spartan Ilissa Hamilton held the previous record for strikeouts with 184 during the 2018 season, and Miskey was tied with former Spartan Sidney Brannam with 22 wins, which Brannam recorded during the 2021 campaign.

Game 1: #3 CWRU 3, Chicago 1

Junior infielder KaiLi Gross singled to lead off the game and scored the first run of the contest on a groundout by senior outfielder Carli Tucci. Gross stole her 27th base of the season in the first inning, moving her into third place in program history for steals in a season.

In each of the first three innings, Chicago had two runners reach base, but Miskey was able to work out of trouble each time to strand the runners.

CWRU took advantage of a Maroon miscue in the top of the fourth inning to double the lead. After senior infielder Amanda Riely singled to lead off the inning, Tucci reached on a bunt single. The Chicago infielder threw the ball away, allowing Riely to score. Sophomore infielder Isabella Russo followed with a triple down the right field line to make the score 3-0, but she was thrown out at home for the first out of the frame.

Chicago scored its first run of the game with two outs in the sixth inning, taking advantage of two Case Western Reserve errors to plate a run. With the bases loaded, junior pitcher Jenna Jaklich induced a groundout to keep the lead at two heading into the final inning. Over two innings of work in relief, Jaklich allowed an unearned run on two hits and two walks.

After allowing a leadoff single in the seventh, Miskey used a caught stealing, a groundout, and a flyout to seal the victory in game one. Gross had her 14th multi-hit game of the season with two singles, and five other Spartans recorded hits in the contest.

Game 2: #3 CWRU 8, Chicago 0 (5 inn.)

Gross and junior outfielder Kela Jagoda led off the second game with back-to-back hits and both scored on a double by Riely. Tucci gave the team an early 3-0 lead by reaching on an error that allowed Riely to score from second base, and she scored the fourth run of the inning on a one-out steal of home.

CWRU added a run in the second inning on a solo home run by Gross, her fourth of the season. The following inning the Spartans made the score 6-0 by scoring on a Chicago error. The Maroons threatened to score in the bottom of the third inning, loading the bases with just one out, but sophomore pitcher Kylie Hosey escaped the jam with a foul out and a groundout.

Gross, who singled to start the fourth inning to collect her fifth hit of the day, scored the seventh run of the game on a double by Jagoda. A double later in the inning by Russo plated Riely to make the score 8-0 in favor of CWRU. Hosey escaped another bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth to preserve the shutout and worked around a one-out single in the fifth inning to secure the doubleheader sweep.

Hosey (13-2) recorded her second shutout of the season and the third of her career, allowing four hits and three walks in five innings while tallying two strikeouts. It was the 13th shutout of the season by the Case Western Reserve pitching staff. Gross collected three hits in a game for the third time this season, scored three times, and stole the 60th base of her career, and Jagoda recorded two hits and a stolen base.

The Spartans, who qualified for the NCAA Championship with the program's second consecutive University Athletic Association Championship, will learn their regional site and opponents during a selection show on ncaa.com on Monday, May 15 at 1 p.m. Regional action begins on Thursday, May 18 and concludes on Saturday, May 20.