The 13th-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team split a rain-soaked doubleheader with the University of Chicago on Saturday at Mather Park in Cleveland, winning the first contest 11-2 in six innings before dropping the second game 6-1.
The Spartans moved to 21-9 overall and 7-4 in University Athletic Association contests. The Maroons remained at .500, moving to 15-15 in 2025 and 4-8 in UAA games.
Graduate student infielder KaiLi Gross tied the program record for doubles in a game in the first contest, recording three two-base hits while also driving in three runs. Sophomore infielder Karen Potts drove in four runs and collected three hits in the opener, and senior catcher Katelyn Lamm had hits in both games, including a home run.
Game 1: #13 CWRU 11, Chicago 2 (6 inn.)
After a scoreless first inning, the Spartans loaded the bases in the second stanza with a hit by pitch and a pair of hits. With two outs, Potts opened the scoring by lacing a single to left field and driving in a pair of runs. Junior infielder Elizabeth Berry followed with a run-scoring single, and Potts later scored on a wild pitch. Gross capped the scoring with her first double of the game to send Berry home, making the score 5-0.
The Maroons cut into the deficit in the next inning, scoring on a single and a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-2.
CWRU added three more runs in the fourth inning. Potts drove in sophomore outfielder Nylah Durham with a single, and Gross plated a pair with her second of three two-base hits. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Potts in the fifth made the score 9-2, and Lamm ended the contest with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was her fourth homer of the season and second in as many games.
In the circle, sophomore Devanghi Misra (1-0) earned her first win of the season, pitching the final three innings of the game. She allowed no runs on two hits and a walk. Senior pitcher Lexi Miskey started the contest, allowing two runs in the first three innings on one hit.
Game 2: Chicago 6, #13 CWRU 1
After a pair of scoreless frames thrown by Paige Heffke and senior pitcher Kylie Hosey, the Maroons scored a pair of runs on a triple and single. Hosey induced a double play to escape further harm in the inning, keeping the deficit at two.
Chicago loaded the bases in the following inning, but Miskey came on in relief to quench the threat. In the bottom half, Gross singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She then stole third and scored on an errant throw by the Maroon catcher.
The visitors put the game away in the sixth inning, scoring four times in the frame to make the score 6-1. Natalie Antin drove in two runs with a double, and Audrey Hui followed with a two-run single for Chicago.
Hosey (7-6) suffered the loss in the circle, allowing two runs on eight hits in three and two-third innings. Heffke (11-8) picked up the win in a complete game effort.
Gross had two of the team's four hits in the game with Potts and Lamm registered the other two. Lamm also picked off a runner at first base.
The Spartans will continue conference play with a three-game series in Massachusetts next weekend, taking on the Brandeis Judges starting on Friday, April 25.
Spartan Notes
- Prior to the game, CWRU celebrated its six graduating team members, the second-winningest class in program history. Those who were honored included Gross, Hosey, Lamm, Miskey, Isabella Russo, and Abbey Rzeszutko
- The Spartans moved to 13-10 all-time against the Maroons with the loss in the second game snapped a 10-game winning streak in the series
- Potts matched a career-high with four runs batted in after achieving the feat against Belhaven earlier this season and against Brandeis in 2024
- Two Spartans had three doubles in a game prior to Gross, Nicole Doyle, who accomplished the feat on April 15, 2017, and March 15, 2019, and Jordon Manworren, who slugged a trio of two-base hits against Heidelberg on April 26, 2022
- Gross recorded her team-leading 15th and 16th multi-hit games of the season in the doubleheader, registering three hits for the fifth time in 2025. Potts had a three-hit game for the third time in the campaign
- Lamm and Gross both reached base safely with hits in all three games of the series, extending their hitting streaks to seven games
- Prior to the loss, CWRU had won 14 consecutive games at Mather Park, dating back to the Regional Round of the 2024 NCAA Championship