Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton College softball team opened up conference play with a doubleheader loss to Augustana College 9-2 and 8-4 on Thursday.

The Thunder fell to 13-9 overall on the season and 0-2 in CCIW play. The No. 11-ranked Vikings improved to 16-5 overall and 2-0 in conference.

The visiting Vikings got rolling right away in game one, banging out four hits and three runs in the opening frame. Wheaton countered by adding two runs of their own on Lauren Griffith's first career collegiate home run.

The Thunder had an opportunity to take the lead in the second inning with the bases loaded and one out. But a strikeout and a pop out ended the threat.

Augustana would go on to add three runs in the third inning, two runs in the sixth and one run in the seventh to gain the victory. The Vikings banged out 13 hits and dealt Ainsley McCullough the loss. McCullough (7-5) threw all seven innings, walking two and striking out two.

Adrienne Munoz went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Thunder bats.

Game two saw the Vikings repeat their previous hitting performance, banging out nine hits and eight runs in the first two innings to take an 8-1 lead.

Wheaton would get one run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Christine Williams and Amanda Mattocks knocked RBI singles and Griffith added an RBI groundout. Mattocks went 3-for-3 and Williams went 2-for-2 at the plate in the game.

Danielle Schmidt (5-4) took the loss, allowing nine hits, eight runs (six earned) and struck out one. The game was called after the sixth inning due to darkness.

The Thunder continue its season on Monday with a home doubleheader vs. University of Chicago starting at 3 PM.