Chicago, Ill. (4/27) – The Thunder softball team swept North Park on Friday afternoon in a CCIW doubleheader at the Vikings' Holmgren Athletic Complex. Wheaton was a 4-1 winner in the first game and the Thunder won a 5-0 decision in the nightcap. Wheaton is now 17-18-1 on the year with a 5-7 record in league play, while North Park is 12-19 overall and 0-12 in conference play.
In its 4-1 win in Friday's opener, Wheaton scored four runs, on eight hits, with no errors and North Park scored one run, on seven hits, with four errors. Wheaton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as junior leadoff hitter Lauren Hein was hit by a pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by fellow junior Trinity Pierce. Wheaton added another run in the top of the fourth inning to increase its lead to 2-0 as Amanda Grant drew a leadoff walk and would later score on a Viking error. North Park scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the Thunder advantage to 2-1. Wheaton added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to account for the 4-1 final score. Sarah Callicutt drilled a leadoff solo home run to open the seventh inning and Kay Oliver hit a RBI-double to centerfield.
Junior starting pitcher Beth Miller (8-6) earned the complete game victory in seven innings of work. Miller allowed one run, on seven hits, with three walks and 11 strikeouts. Callicutt was 3-for-4, with a homer, a double, a run scored and a run driven in. Oliver went 2-for-3, with a run scored.
Wheaton was 5-0 winner in the nightcap as the Thunder scored five runs, on nine hits, with no errors and North Park had no runs, on six hits, with one error. Wheaton scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead on the Vikings. Callicutt belted a one-out solo home run in the first, Miller hit a two-run single and she later scored on a Viking error to give the 'Orange and Blue' the early lead. Wheaton added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning as freshman Becky Redline hit a leadoff single and she scored when the streaking Callicutt remained hot with a RBI-double.
Thunder starting pitcher Kim Hegna (7-5) earned the win in five innings of work. Hegna did not allow a run, scattered five hits, with no walks and struck out four batters. Junior Sara Hoffman pitched two innings of relief, with no runs, on one hit, with one walk and a strikeout. Callicutt was 3-for-4, with her second homer of the day, a double, two RBI and a run scored. Redline was 2-for-2, with a walk and a run scored.
The Thunder will host Trinity Christian College on Saturday in a non-conference doubleheader at 11 AM on Ruth Leedy Field. Wheaton will conclude the regular season on Monday, April 30 at 3 PM in a doubleheader against Elmhurst College. Monday's doubleheader was originally scheduled for yesterday; however, the twinbill was rained out and postponed to Monday.
