WHEATON-CHAPMAN BOXSCORE

WHEATON-DESALES BOXSCORE

Orange, Calif. – The Thunder softball team split a pair of games on Wednesday at Chapman University's “Sunwest Tournament”. The Thunder earned an impressive 5-4 victory against the host Panthers of Chapman University to open the day. In Wheaton's second game of the day, the Thunder lost 6-5 to DeSales University in eight innings.

In the 5-4 victory against Chapman, sophomore pitcher Ainsley McCullough tossed a complete game to earn the win. In seven innings, McCullough allowed four runs, on seven hits, with two strikeouts. Freshman infielder Lauren Griffith was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Wheaton scored five runs, on four hits, with one error and Chapman scored four runs, on seven hits, with four errors.

Adrienne Munoz hit a lead-off home run over the center field fence to open the game. In the next at bat, Katie Iser reached base on error and she scored when Griffith doubled to right center field. Wheaton extended its lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as Christine Williams and Griffith each hit RBI-singles.

Chapman rallied with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut Wheaton's lead to 4-3 and the Panthers added another run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 4-4. Wheaton recorded a rally of its own in the dramatic bottom of the seventh inning. Thunder junior Kelli Hennessey reached second base with one out on a Panther error. Freshman Elizabeth Perez hit the ball to the shortstop, however, a Chapman error allowed Perez to reach base and Hennessey scored on the play to give Wheaton the victory.

In the second game, Wheaton Faced DeSales for the second consecutive day. The Thunder fell 6-5 in the eight-inning contest. Freshman Danielle Schmidt took the loss in eight innings. She allowed six runs, three of the runs were earned, on nine hits, with four strikeouts. Williams was 3-for-3, with two RBI and a run scored. Munoz was 2-for-5 at the plate with a run scored.

DeSales broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Wheaton cut the Bulldogs' lead to 3-1 with a run in the bottom of the third inning as Amanda Mattocks drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. DeSales extended its lead to 4-1 with a run in the top of the sixth inning, however, the Thunder scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Megan Chrans started the Thunder rally with a one-out single and then Lesley Guenard reached first on the next at-bat when she was hit by a pitch. Williams singled to centerfield, bringing Chrans across the plate. Jenna Lawrenz then followed in the next at bat with a single to centerfield that brought Guenard and Williams home to tie the game at 4-4.

After a scoreless seventh inning the game went into extra innings. DeSales scored a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 6-4 lead. Wheaton attempted a rally in the bottom of the eighth inning as Williams hit a RBI-single to drive in Chrans, however, the Thunder were unable to complete the rally as the Bulldogs defeated Wheaton for the second consecutive day.

Wheaton (3-3) will play two more games in the tournament on Thursday. Wheaton will play Holy Names University at 12 PM (PST) followed by a 2 PM (PST) meeting with DeSales University.