Kenosha, Wis. (4/14) - The Wheaton Softball team earned two solid victories against conference foe Carthage on Saturday. Wheaton is now 15-13 overall and 3-3 in the CCIW. Carthage falls to 12-10 overall and 2-4 in the CCIW. Wheaton was a 2-0 victor in the first game and won the second game 3-2 in eight innings. The Thunder will return to action on Wednesday at Augustana College.
In the first game, it didn't take long for Wheaton to get on the scoreboard as freshman Alissa Sharp hit a two-run homerun over the leftfield fence in the top of the first inning. The home run scored junior Sarah Callicutt who had reached earlier on error. Those runs were all junior pitcher Kim Hegna needed as she dominated Carthage by pitching a complete game two-hit gem. Hegna, now 6-3, walked one and struck out four. Allie Benthusen of Carthage took the loss and fell to 5-5 on the year.
In the second game, Carthage jumped out to an early lead in the top of third inning when Terri Piekosz led off the inning with a single to leftfield. Piekosz stole second and Stephanie Noel singled up the middle to collect the first run of the game and a RBI. Two batters later, Nikki Soreng singled to rightfield and a fielding error brought Noel home to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Wheaton got a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sarah Callicutt homered down the leftfield line to cut the Lady Reds' lead to 2-1. Wheaton tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of sixth inning when junior Trinity Pierce doubled to centerfield, driving in Callicutt.
It took extra innings, but the Thunder secured the win in the bottom of the eighth inning to break the 2-2 tie as Beth Miller helped her own cause and drew a bases loaded walk to end the game and secure the victory. Miller pitched six innings of relief, allowed two runs, one of which was earned. She also struck out five and did not allow a walk. Trinity Pierce was 2-for-3 with two doubles. Kelsey Epping of Carthage took the loss in eight innings of work to fall to 4-5. Epping allowed eight hits, gave up four walks, and struck out 11.
