GAME STATS 1 | GAME STATS 2 Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton softball team opened conference play on Saturday with Illinois Wesleyan visiting the Thunder at Ruth Leedy Field. The Titans rallied to win the opening game 3-2 and IWU swept the twinbill with a 6-0 victory in the nightcap.

Wheaton is now 12-8 on the year and 0-2 in CCIW play and will host Carthage College on Monday at 3 p.m. for a doubleheader. Illinois Wesleyan, ranked 16th in the NFCA Division III Coaches Poll, is now 16-3 overall and 3-1 in the CCIW.

Illinois Wesleyan was a 3-2 winner in the opening game as the Titans scored three runs, on six hits, with two errors. Thunder starting pitcher Katie Thornton (4-4) took the loss in seven innings. The sophomore allowed three runs, on six hits, with two strikeouts and seven walks.

The Titans scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead. Wheaton responded in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of runs. Christina Sandstedt hit a one-out single in the sixth and senior Stacey Cladis followed in the sixth inning with a booming home run over the fence in right centerfield to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage. Illinois Wesleyan scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to regain the lead with a 3-2 advantage. Wheaton was unable to muster a rally as the Titans earned the 3-2 victory.

The Titans won the second game 6-0 as the guests scored six runs, on nine hits, with one errors and Wheaton was scoreless, on five hits, with no errors. Wheaton starting pitcher Abby Butler (6-2) took the loss in two innings. Butler allowed two runs, on four hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Thornton pitched four innings of relief, allowing four runs, on five hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.

Thornton collected two of Wheaton's five hits in the game. Goeke, Sandstedt and Becky Leone each added singles for the hosts.