PICTURED ABOVE: Megan Neuhaus collected four hits on the day with four RBI as she hit a triple and a double.

Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder softball team swept a doubleheader with Saint Mary's College (Ind.) on Thursday afternoon at Ruth Leedy Field. Wheaton was a 9-1 winner in five innings in the opener and the Thunder pulled out a 4-3 win in the second game.

Wheaton is now 8-7 on the year and Saint Mary's owns an 8-4 record. The Thunder will host Robert Morris University-Chicago on Saturday at noon for a doubleheader.
 
Wheaton earned a 9-1 win in today's first game as the Thunder scored nine runs, on 10 hits, with one error and the Belles scored one run, on two hits with two errors. Thunder junior Katie Thornton (5-4) earned the win in five innings. Thornton (PICTURED RIGHT) allowed one run, with no earned runs, on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Freshman shortstop Megan Neuhaus was 3-for-4 with a doubles as she drove in two runs and one run scored. Thornton was 2-for-2, with a double, three RBI and a run scored. Junior Christina Sandstedt had a 2-for-2 effort with a double and two runs scored.
 
Wheaton broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Thornton drove in three runs in the inning on a double to right field. Lyndsey Pritchard and Ellen Radandt each hit a RBI-single and Julia Arthur drove in one run on a sacrifice fly. Neuhaus increased Wheaton's lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a RBI-double to centerfield.  The Belles scored a run in the top of the fifth inning to cut Wheaton's lead to 7-1. Wheaton scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Wheaton the eight-run lead it needed to end the game. Wheaton earned the 9-1 win with RBI-singles in the fifth inning by Neuhaus and Alyssa Leonard.
 
Wheaton earned a 4-3 in the nightcap to pick up the sweep. The Thunder tallied four runs, on six hits, with three errors and Saint Mary's scored three runs, on eight hits with four errors. Thornton served as Wheaton's starting pitcher. She worked one inning, allowed three runs, including two earned runs, on three hits, with two walks and one strikeout. Abby Butler (3-0) earned the win in four innings of scoreless relief. Butler (PICTURED LEFT) scattered five hits. Freshman Kendall Kehres picked up the save in two innings of relief as she held the Belles hitless and struck out two batters. Pritchard was 2-for-3 in the game. Neuhaus hit a triple and drove in two runs. Butler was 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and Julia Arthur was 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
 
Saint Mary's scored three times in the top of the third inning. Wheaton countered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning to tie the contest at 3-3. Neuhaus belted a triple to rightfield that drove in two runs and she score on the next at-bat when Alyssa Leonard hit a RBI-single through the right side of the infield.

Arthur led the fourth inning with a RBI-single and advanced to second base on a Saint Mary's error when the Belles committed a miscue in an attempt to pick her off of first base. A Saint Mary's error during Neuhaus' at bat advanced Arthur to third base. During the next at bat, Neuhaus stole second base and on the play the ball slipped past the Belles' infielder, allowing Arthur to score the game-winning run on the error.