GAME 1 BOXSCORE
GAME 2 BOXSCORE

Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder softball team split a conference doubleheader with North Central College on Thursday afternoon at Wheaton's Ruth Leedy Field. North Central rallied to win the opener 6-4 in nine innings and Wheaton rallied to win the second game 7-5 in eight innings.

North Central, ranked 24th in this week's NFCA Division III Top-25, is now 18-2 on the year with a 5-3 conference record. Wheaton owns a 16-3-1record for the season, with a 3-5 conference record. The Thunder will return to action on Saturday at 1 PM with a key conference doubleheader at Illinois Wesleyan.

North Central won the first game 5-3 as the guests scored five runs, on nine hits, with one error and Wheaton plated three runs, on 10 hits, with two errors. Thunder starting pitcher Ainsley McCullough took the loss in nine innings. She allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits, with seven strikeouts. North Central's Vlasta Mangia (6-4) was the winner in nine innings as she allowed three runs, on 10 hits, with one strikeout.

Thunder centerfielder Katie Iser was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Leftfielder Lesley Guenard was 2-for-4, with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored. Amanda Mattocks was 2-for-4, with a run driven in. North Central's Lauren Schramm was 2-for-4, with two RBI

North Central scored the game's first run – it came in the top of the fourth inning. Wheaton countered with two run in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Iser scored following a single by Kelli Hennessey to tie the game and Guenard stole home on a delayed steal to put the hosts up 2-1. A Wheaton throwing error with two outs in the top of the seventh inning allowed the tying run to score and knot the game at 2-2.

Each team scored a run in the eighth inning, Wheaton's run came on an Amanda Mattocks RBI-single to send the game into the ninth inning. Schramm hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to give the Cardinals the 5-3 advantage that would be the final outcome.

Wheaton was a 7-5 victor in the second game as the Thunder scored seven runs, on 12 hits, with two errors and North Central scored five runs, on 13 hits, with two errors. Thunder starting pitcher Danielle Schmidt worked 5-2/3 innings, allowing five runs, with one earned run, on nine hits, with two strikeouts. McCullough (6-6) earned the win in 2-1/3 innings of relief as she held the Cardinals scoreless on four hits, with two strikeouts. Brianna Nelson took the loss for North Central (10-3) in 7-1/3 innings as she allowed six runs, with four earned on 12 hits.

Suzanne Teuben had a big effort in the second game for the Thunder as she went 3-for-5, with a double and four RBI. Iser was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Guenard was 2-for-3, with a walk, two runs scored, a RBI and a stolen base. North Central shortstop Laura Whitfield was 3-for-5, with two RBI.

Teuben hit a two-run single in the top of the first inning to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead. Wheaton increased its lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning thanks to a RBI-double by Guenard. Teuben drove in two more runs in the top of the fifth inning when she belted a double to left centerfield.

North Central scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 5-5. North Central threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Cardinals hit a leadoff single, followed by a sacrifice bunt to send the runner to second base. A Wheaton error allowed the next batter to reach first base and the runner from second attempted to score. However, Guenard rifled a throw home to catcher Stacey Cladis who expertly blocked the plate and prevented the game-winning run from scoring.
In the top of the eighth inning Iser reached base on a single and Guenard was walked. A Cardinal error on Jenna Lawrenz's at-bat allowed both Iser and Guenard to score and give the Thunder a 7-5 edge. In the bottom of the eighth the Cardinals had a leadoff single. With one out, Iser made a diving catch in centerfield to record the second out, preventing the runner at first from getting into scoring position. McCullough struck out the final batter to win the game for the 'Orange and Blue'.