GAME STATS 1 | GAME STATS 2 PICTURED ABOVE: Christina Sandstedt was 4-for-7 with two doubles and three RBI in Wheaton's two victories on Saturday

Clermont, Fla. – The Wheaton softball team opened its 2016 campaign on Saturday with a pair of wins at the NTC Tournament. The Thunder opened up with a 2-1 win against Case Western Reserve on Saturday morning and closed the day with a 5-3 victory against University of Rochester in the afternoon game. Wheaton (2-0) will return to action on Monday afternoon with a game against Misericordia and an evening matchup with New England College.

Wheaton struck early with two runs in the first inning in its 2-1 victory against Case Western. Ellen Radandt hit an RBI double to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead and she scored on the very next at bat thanks to a Case Western wild pitch and run-scoring passed ball. The Spartans tallied one run in bottom of the fifth inning against starting pitcher Katie Thornton (PICTURED ABOVE). Thornton held the Spartans hitless in the final two innings to earn the win.

Wheaton scored two runs, on four hits, with two errors and Case Western scored one run, on six hits with one error. Thornton allowed just one run, on six hits in seven innings. The senior struck out eight batters and walked four Spartans. Christina Sandstedt was 2-for-3 with a double. Radandt and Alyssa Leonard also tallied doubles for the Thunder.

Wheaton jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in earning its 5-3 victory against Rochester. Katie Yergler drew a leadoff walk to open the top of the first for the Thunder and she scored four batters later on a RBI-single by Sandstedt. Wheaton added four runs in the top of the second inning, highlighted by a RBI-double for Sandstedt. Rochester scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Wheaton held on to earn the win.

Wheaton scored five runs on six hits with one error and Rochester tallied three runs on six hits with three errors. Starting pitcher Kendall Kehres (PICTURED RIGHT) earned the win in seven innings of work. Kehres allowed six hits, with just two walks and one strikeout. She allowed three runs in the game, including two earned runs. Sandstedt was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Yergler scored twice for the Thunder. Sandstedt and Lyndsey Pritchard each hit a double for the Thunder.