Kissimmee, Fla.(3/8) - The Thunder softball team (5-3) spilt a pair of games on Thursday. Wheaton was held to just one hit in Thursday's first game, a 5-0 loss to Ursinus College and junior pitcher Beth Miller went seven innings giving up just one unearned to help the Thunder claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Muhlenberg College in the second. The team will conclude its spring training at the “Rebel Games” on Friday playing at 9 AM and again at 11 AM.
In the 5-0 loss to Ursinus, the Thunder offense was rendered silent as the Ursinus' pitchers Lindsay Schmidt and Lauren Davis combined for a one-hitter. The lone hit was a single by junior Sarah Callicutt in the bottom of the second inning. She was later retired trying to steal second.
Ursinus jumped out to an early lead after a double by Sara Hennessey drove in two runs, with two outs in the first inning. They would score three more runs, included two unearned runs in the sixth.
Scmidt earned the victory with four shutout innings. Thunder junior Kim Hegna (1-1) took the loss. Junior Sara Hoffman tossed four innings of relief, allowing two hits and two unearned runs. Both Hegna and Hoffman struck out three batters.
In the second game, the Thunder played well defensively to overcome Muhlenberg in a 2-1 victory. Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Thunder freshman Alissa Sharp doubled to centerfield. Senior Amanda Grant followed with a single to rightfield to score a hustling Sharp.
Muhlenberg answered in the bottom of the fifth when Jenna Van Waalwijk hit a two-out double to leftfield. A Thunder error resulted in the unearned run being scored.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Muhlenberg's Samantha Crist singled and then Tina Roth bunted to advance Crist to third base. However, first-year Thunder head coach Chris Hudson recognized Crist had left early and she was called out on the appeal.
In top of the seventh, Thunder freshman Becky Redline draw a leadoff walk. Senior Amber Richardson and junior Lauren Hein advanced Redline to third. Freshman Laura Jones then worked a 3-2 count with two outs, before tapping a hit to the left side. She beat out a close throw to score Redline for the go-ahead run.
The Thunder defense held in the bottom of the seventh and went on to secure the win. Miller pitched a complete game earning the win and improving to 2-1. She allowed only one run, unearned, on six hits. Miller also struck out three batters with no walks.
