Chicago, Ill. (3/29) – The Thunder softball team swept a doubleheader at the University of Chicago on Thursday afternoon, winning the opener 6-4  and earning a 7-6 victory  in the nightcap. Today's sweep marked the first time in more than 15 years that Wheaton won both games of a doubleheader against Chicago and snapped the Maroons' four-game winning streak against the Thunder.

Wheaton is now 10-6 on the season, while Chicago falls to 10-4. The Thunder will return to action on April 2 when the squad will host Lake Forest at 3 PM on Ruth Leedy Field.

Wheaton was a 6-4 victor in today's opener as the Thunder scored six runs, on eight hits, with no errors and Chicago scored four runs, on six hits, with no errors.

Chicago scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-0 lead, however, Wheaton battled back with four runs in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Junior Trinity Pierce scored Wheaton's first run with a solo home run over the centerfield fence to start off Wheaton's big inning. Sarah Callicutt   and Lauren Hein hit RBI-singles in the inning and Sara Hoffman added a RBI sacrifice bunt. With two outs in the top of the seventh inning Beth Miller and Alissa Sharp hit back-to-back singles. Callicutt blasted a double to centerfield that brought the pair home to give Wheaton the 6-4 lead that would become the final score.

Hoffman was the Thunder starting pitcher, with three innings of work. Hoffman allowed four runs, on four hits, with four strikeouts and three walks. Miller   earned the victory in three inning of relief as she held the Maroons scoreless, allowed two hits, with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Callicutt was 2-for-4, with the game-winning double, three RBI and a run scored. Sharp was 2-for-3 at the plate, with two runs scored, a walk and a double. Miller had two hits in three at-bats, with a walk and a run scored.

In the 7-6 Thunder victory in the nightcap the Thunder scored seven runs, on seven hits, with three errors and Chicago scored six runs, on nine hits, with two errors.

Wheaton took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Hein and Pierce   hit singles and then both players scored on a double to the gap in right centerfield by Sharp. Chicago plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-2 lead. Callicutt hit a one-out single in the top of the third inning and scored when Pierce belted her second home run of the day to tie the game at 4-4. Pierce's round tripper over the left field fence was her fourth home run of the season.

Chicago plated an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 5-4 lead. Wheaton regained the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Hein   led off the fifth inning with a single through the middle of the infield and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Sharp. Miller followed by reaching first on a fielder's choice that sent Sharp to second base. Senior Amanda Grant hit a single to right centerfield that brought Sharp home to give Wheaton a 6-5 lead. Grant stole second base and Miller scored on a daring double-steal that increased the Thunder lead to 7-5. Chicago plated one run in the sixth inning, but Wheaton shut out the Maroons in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the victory and the sweep of the doubleheader.

Junior Kim Hegna was the Thunder starting pitcher, with 3-1/3 innings of work. Hegna allowed five runs, with two earned runs, on eight hits, with two strikeouts and one walk. Miller (6-3) earned the win in 3-2/3 innings of relief as she allowed one run, on one hit.

Pierce was 2-for-3, with the home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. Hein recorded a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, with two runs and a stolen base. Sharp was 1-for-2, with a walk, two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.