Wheaton, Ill. (4/29) – The Thunder softball team ended its season on Monday afternoon with a doubleheader against Elmhurst College at Ruth Leedy Field. The Bluejays rallied to defeat Wheaton 5-2 in the opener and Elmhurst was a 4-1 victor in the nightcap. Wheaton ends the season 19-20-1 on the year, with a 5-9 record in conference play. Elmhurst is 12-26 overall and 6-8 in league play.

In the Bluejays' 5-2 win in the opener, Elmhurst scored five runs, with eight hits and one error, while Wheaton plated two runs, with seven hits and no errors. Elmhurst gained a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Wheaton junior Lauren Hein (PICTURED) led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to left centerfield and she scored on a RBI by Sarah Callicutt. Hein led off the bottom of the third inning with a single to leftfield. She then stole second base and she scored on a single by freshman Alissa Sharp. The Bluejays took a 4-2 lead with two runs in the top of the sixth and the guests added another run in the seventh to accomplish the 5-2 final score.

Thunder junior Beth Miller was the starting pitcher, with 1-1/3 innings of work. She allowed two runs, on three hits, with two walks. Reliever Kim Hegna (8-6) took the loss in 5-2/3 innings of work. Hegna allowed three runs, on five hits, with three strikeouts. Hein was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, as she scored both of Wheaton's runs. Freshman Becky Redline was 2-for-3. Singles by Callicutt and Sharp rounded out Wheaton's seven hits in the game.

In the second game Elmhurst scored four runs, on 11 hits, with two errors and Wheaton scored one run, on two hits, with two errors as the Bluejays earned the 4-1 win. The two teams played three scoreless innings, until Beth Miller drove in Callicutt who had reached earlier on an error to give Wheaton a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Bluejays scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the 4-1 lead that would result in the final outcome.

Hegna started the game for the Thunder, with three innings, allowing four hits, with no runs and one strikeout. Sara Hoffman (2-8) took the loss in one inning of relief, allowing four runs, with three earned runs, on six hits. Miller pitched the final two innings, with one hit allowed; she gave up no runs, struck out two and walked one. Thunder junior Trinity Pierce (RIGHT) hit two singles to account for both of Wheaton's hits in the game.