GAME 1 BOXSCORE
GAME 2 BOXSCORE

Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder softball team swept a conference doubleheader with Elmhurst College on Monday afternoon in cold conditions at Ruth Leedy Field. A two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Thunder a 7-6 victory in the first game and Wheaton was a 6-3 winner in the second game. Wheaton is now 15-12-1 on the year, with a 2-4 record in conference play. Elmhurst is now 10-20, with a 2-6 record in conference play. The Thunder will remain in CCIW action on Thursday when it hosts North Central in a doubleheader that is slated to begin at 3 PM.

Wheaton won the first game 7-6, as the Thunder scored seven runs, on 10 hits, with three errors and Elmhurst plated six runs, on 10 hits, with three errors. Wheaton starting pitcher Ainsley McCullough worked 5-2/3 innings, allowing six runs, three of which were earned, on nine hits, with three strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Sarah Hammitt (3-2) earned the victory in 1-1/3 innings of scoreless relief, as she held the Bluejays to a hit and a walk.

Jenna Lawrenz was 2-for-3 in the game with a RBI. Lesley Guenard was 2-for-4, with a double as she scored twice and drove in two runs. Amanda Mattocks was 2-for-4, with two RBI.

The score was tied at 1-1 after three innings as each team scored a run in their half of the third. A RBI-single by Thunder junior Jenna Lawrenz scored Wheaton's run in the inning. Wheaton scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as Lesley Guenard and Amanda Mattocks hit back-to-back two-run singles to give the hosts a 4-1 lead. Elmhurst trimmed the Thunder lead to 5-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Bluejays took the lead in the top of the sixth inning as the guests scored three unearned runs with two outs to gain a 6-5 advantage.

Mattocks led off the bottom of the seventh for the Thunder with a single to centerfield; and she was relieved by pinch runner Jessica Goeke. Goeke advanced to second base on a sacrifice by Lawrenz, followed by a groundout with Goeke remaining at second base with two outs. Freshman Stacey Cladis hit a solid double to centerfield that brought Goeke home and tied the game at 6-6. Sophomore Eilzabeth Perez then won the game with a single to centerfield that brought the winning run home for the 7-6 victory.

Wheaton won the second game 6-3 as the Thunder scored six runs, on nine hits, with no errors and Elmhurst scored three runs, on seven hits, with one error. Sophomore starting pitcher Danielle Schmidt earned the win to improve to 7-5 on the year. Schmidt worked seven innings, allowing three runs, on seven hits, with five strikeouts.

Senior Katie Iser was superb in the second game as she was 4-for-4, with five stolen bases and four runs scored. Lesley Guenard was 2-for-3, with her team-best third home run of the season and three RBI. Fellow senior Kelli Hennessey was 2-for-3, with a run scored.

Amanda Mattocks hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. Elmhurst scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. Iser scored a run after hitting a single in the top of the third inning and Guenard hit a two-run home run to extend the Thunder lead to 4-1. Elmhurst cut the Wheaton lead to 4-2 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Iser led off the top of the fifth inning with a single and she scored two batters later on a RBI-single by Guenard to increase the Thunder advantage to 5-2. Elmhurst added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to trim the hosts lead to 5-3. Wheaton added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Iser scored following a Hennessey single to give Wheaton the 6-3 final outcome.