GAME STATS 1 | GAME STATS 2 PICTURED ABOVE: Stacey Cladis

GAME #1 BOXSCORE: Augustana 5, Wheaton 4 (8 Innings)

GAME #2 BOXSCORE: Augustana 10, Wheaton 1 (5 Innings)


Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder softball team dropped a pair of games in the conference-opening doubleheader against Augustana on Thursday afternoon at Wheaton's Ruth Leedy Field. Augustana rallied to beat Wheaton 5-4 in eight innings to win the first game and the Vikings topped the Thunder 10-1 in five innings of the second game.

Wheaton is now 17-9 on the year, with a 0-2 conference record. Augustana improves to 17-5 overall and 2-0 in CCIW action. The Thunder will remain in conference play to host Carthage College on April 11 at 3 PM.

The Vikings won the opener 5-4 in eight innings. Augustana scored five runs, on seven hits, with two errors and Wheaton plated four runs, on six hits, with two errors. Thunder starting pitcher Danielle Schmidt (10-4) tossed all eight innings for the hosts in earning the loss. Schmidt allowed five runs, including four earned runs, on seven hits, with seven walks and six strikeouts. Six different Thunder batters collected a single to account for Wheaton's six hits in the game.

The two teams battled through four scoreless innings until Augustana scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Wheaton countered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead. Lesley Guenard drove in a run with a RBI-single, two runs scored on a Viking error and Megan Chrans drove in a run. Augustana scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 4-4. The game went into extra innings, as Augustana scored what would be the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning.

Augustana won the nightcap 10-1 in five innings. The Vikings scored 10 runs, on nine hits, with no errors and Wheaton plated one run, on three hits, with two errors. Schmidt (10-5) pitched three innings, allowing nine runs, including eight earned runs, on six hits, with seven walks and two strikeouts. Mandy Brown pitched one inning of relief, allowing one run, on three hits, with one walk.

Augustana took an early 5-0 lead in the final game with five runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Vikings added two runs in the second inning and two more in the third inning to extend their lead to 9-0. In the top of the fourth inning, Wheaton's Stacey Cladis belted a solo home run over the fence in centerfield to make the scored 9-1. The Vikings added one run in the bottom of the fourth to extend its lead to the eventual final score of 10-1.