GAME STATS 1 | GAME STATS 2 PICTURED ABOVE (L-R): Jenna Lawrenz and Megan Crucetti.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton College softball team lost two games to Carthage College 8-3 and 8-7 on Wednesday.

The Thunder fell to 17-11 overall and 0-4 in the CCIW. The Lady Reds ran its win streak to 12 games, improving to 22-2 overall and 2-0 in conference.

Wheaton started off game one by wriggling out of a first-inning jam. With runners on second and third, Ainsley McCullough struck out the next to batters to end the frame.

The Thunder plated a pair in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. A single and a bunt led to an RBI single from Jenna Lawrenz. Lesley Guenard then drove her in with an RBI single of her own through the right side.

Carthage broke through with four runs in the fourth inning. The visitors loaded the bases with one out and then stroked two hits. Wheaton answered in its half of the fourth with a run-scoring double courtesy of Megan Crucetti to cut the deficit to 4-3.

But the Lady Reds put the game out of reach with four more runs in the top of the seventh on a pair of doubles.

McCullough (7-4) took the loss on the mound, hurling all seven inning while allowing eight hits, six earned runs and three walks to go with nine strikeouts. The Thunder offense managed seven hits, with two hits each coming from Jessica Goeke and Lawrenz.

Carthage's Krystina Leazer (13-1) earned the win in seven inning, with seven hits, three runs and seven strikeouts.

Wheaton was on the board right away in game two. Lawrenz drew a walk and came around to score on a fielder's choice by Stacey Cladis. However, the Lady Reds picked up three runs in their half of the frame, scoring on an error and a pair of wild pitches.

The hosts tied the score at 3-3 in the second inning. Lawrenz knocked in Danielle Schmidt with a single to right field and then intentionally caused a rundown to allow Crucetti to score from third base.

The momentum continued to swing back and forth. Carthage regained the lead with two runs in the third, but Wheaton came back to score a quartet in the fourth. The Thunder knocked seven hits in that inning, including RBI bunts by both Crucetti and Lawrenz.

With the 7-6 lead in hand, Wheaton headed to the bottom of the sixth. McCullough came in to relieve Schmidt in the pitching circle with one out and one on. After the next batter struck out, Carthage's Katie Morman jumped on a changeup and cracked a two-run homer to left center to provide the winning margin.

McCullough (7-5) and Leazer (14-1) were once again the pitchers of record, this time in relief roles.

Wheaton's offense tallied 15 hits in the game. Crucetti went 3-for-3 while Megan Chrans was 3-for-4. Lawrenz went 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBI from the leadoff spot. Schmidt and Shannah Morris both went 2-for-4.

The Thunder continues its homestand on Thursday with a 3 PM doubleheader against North Park University.