Naperville, Ill. - The Thunder softball team dropped a pair of games in its CCIW-opening doubleheader under wet conditions as at North Central on Thursday afternoon. North Central rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Wheaton 7-2 in the opener. The Cardinals picked up a 12-1 victory in a five-inning nightcap.

Wheaton falls to 11-7 on the year and 0-2 in CCIW play. North Central is now 15-3 overall and 2-0 in conference action. Wheaton will return to action on Friday when the Thunder hosts University of Dubuque in a doubleheader at 3 PM. The Thunder will return to Naperville on Saturday, participating in the North Central Invitational. Wheaton will take on Calvin College at 11 AM and face North Central in a non-conference game at 3 PM.

North Central won the opener, 7-2, as the Cardinals scored seven runs, on nine hits, with one error and Wheaton scored two runs, on seven hits, with three errors. Thunder starting pitcher Kim Hegna (4-1) took the loss in four innings for Wheaton and Mandy Brockman pitched two innings of relief. Sophomore Alissa Sharp (PICTURED) went 2-for-4, with a run scored. Adrienne Munoz went 2-for-3 for the guests.

The Cardinals earned the 12-1 victory in the nightcap as North Central scored 12 runs, on 11 hits, with one error and Wheaton scored one run, on three hits, with three errors. Brockman, the Thunder starting pitcher, took the loss (4-3). Freshman Katie Iser hit her first collegiate home run in the first inning, to account for Wheaton's lone run in the game. Singles by Munoz and Kay Oliver accounted for Wheaton's two other hits in the game.