Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Bloomington, Ill. - The Wheaton College softball team continued its late-inning winning ways and extended Illinois Wesleyan University's losing streak by winning a pair of tight games 3-2 and 4-3 on Saturday.

The Thunder have now won six of its last seven games to improve to 18-13-1 overall and 5-5 in the CCIW. The Titans have lost seven-straight games and are now 16-14 overall and 4-8 in conference.

Wheaton came into the day having played 16 games decided by two runs or fewer. It was more of the same on Saturday as both games were nip and tuck throughout.

The hosts lept out to the 1-0 lead in Game One thanks to an RBI double in the opening frame. But Thunder pitcher Ainsley McCullough stayed in control the rest of the game, striking out 11 batters while allowing only three more hits and one more run.

A walk and an error setup both of Wheaton's runs in the fifth inning, allowing Kelli Hennessey to stroke a two-run double. Another RBI double by IWU tied the score up at 2-2 in the sixth inning and the game went into extra innings.

It was the eighth inning when the Thunder came through with the winning run. Amanda Mattocks smacked a double and pinch runner Shannah Morris came around to score on Jenna Lawrenz's bunt. McCullough then sent the Titans down in order in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the 3-2 victory. McCullough (7-6) threw all eight innings, struck out 11 and allowed two runs on five hits with three walks.

Wheaton managed five hits off IWU's Molly McCready (4-4). Mattocks went 2-for-4 to lead the offense.

In Game Two, Lesley Guenard smacked her fourth home run of the season to give the Thunder an immediate 1-0 lead in the first inning. But Illinois Wesleyan put up a three-spot in the third inning with four straight hits, including a homer.

Wheaton battled back to tie it at 3-3, plating individual runs in the third and fourth innings via RBI singles from Mattocks and Katie Iser. The Thunder then scored the game-winning in the sixth without even recording a hit. Three consecutive errors by the Titans allowed the go-ahead run to score, giving Wheaton the 4-3 win.

Danielle Schmidt (8-5) threw the complete game with seven hits allowed, three runs, two walks and six strikeouts. Katie Bruins took the loss in five innings of work.

The Thunder tallied nine hits in the game, including three hits by Guenard and two each from Mattocks and Suzanne Teuben.

Wheaton will next travel to North Park University for a 3 PM doubleheader on Tuesday.