PICTURED ABOVE: Christina Sandstedt belted a pair of home runs in the opening game and was 5-for-6 at the plate on Saturday.

Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder softball team opened conference play under windy and snowy conditions on Saturday with a doubleheader at home against Augustana (10-14, 0-2 CCIW). Wheaton picked up an 11-1 victory in the opener and the Thunder earned the sweep with a 17-1 win in the nightcap. Wheaton (16-4, 2-0 CCIW) will host North Park for a CCIW doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Wheaton won today's opener 11-1 as the Thunder scored 11 runs, on nine hits, with one error and Augustana tallied one run, on three hits with no errors. Starting pitcher Katie Thornton earned the win in five innings. The senior allowed one earned run, on three hits, with two walks and one strikeout.

Left fielder Alyssa Leonard was 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Senior Christina Sandstedt was 2-for-2 with two walks and a pair of booming home runs as she drove in four runs. Freshman Kelly Thornton (PICTURED LEFT) was 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs, four RBI and two runs scored. Catcher Ellen Radandt was 2-for-3.

Wheaton broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning with four runs. Kelly Thornton and Sandstedt hit back-to-back solo home runs to open the second inning and Leonard hit a two-run homer in the inning.

Wheaton's bats kept going in the bottom of the third inning as Sandstedt belted a three-home run to increase Wheaton's lead to 7-0. The Vikings scored their lone run of the game in the top of the fourth to trim Wheaton's lead to 7-1.

Leonard hit a RBI-double in the bottom of the fourth and Kelly Thornton tallied a three-run homer in the inning to increase the Wheaton advantage to 11-1 as the Thunder won the game at the end of five innings on the run-rule.

The Thunder pulled of the sweep by winning the second game 17-1. The matchup was delayed twice in-game due to weather conditions. Wheaton scored 17 runs, on 20 hits with one error and the Vikings tallied one run, on two hits with one error. Thornton (11-3) earned the win in three innings. She allowed one unearned run, with no hits, on two walks and two strikeouts. Abby Butler pitched one inning of relief as she allowed one hit and no runs. Kendall Kehres worked one inning of scoreless relief as she allowed one hit.

Sandstedt, Katie Thornton (PICTURED LEFT) and Kelly Thornton each were 3-for-4 in the game. Katie Yergler was 2-for-3 and Leonard was 2-for-4. Katie Thornton hit two doubles and a triple. Radandt, Sandstedt, and Emily Bonga each tallied a double.

The Thunder scored seven runs in the top of the second inning. Kelly Thornton and Yergler each hit a RBI-single in the inning to get the scoring started. Bonga added a RBI-double and Leonard contributed a RBI-single. Katie Thornton hit a two-run double to cap off the high-scoring for the Thunder. The Vikings tallied their lone run of the game in the bottom of the third inning.

The hosts increased the lead to 12-1 with five runs in the top of the fourth inning. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single for Sandstedt and a RBI-single for Katie Thornton.

The Thunder tallied five more runs in the top of the fifth inning to account for the 17-1 final score. Radandt and Katie Thornton each belted a RBI-double in the inning. Kelly Thornton added a RBI
single and Julia Arthur wrapped up the Wheaton barrage with a two-run double.

Note Worthy: The 17 runs tallied by the Thunder in the second game was the most ever by Wheaton against Augustana and the 16-run margin of victory was also the most ever against the Vikings…Wheaton's 17 runs is the most by the softball program in a CCIW game since a 20-0 victory against North Park in 1996…the 17 runs in game two is the most by the Thunder in any game since an 18-1 victory against Illinois College on March 27, 2010…Sandstedt's homers in the second and third innings marked the second time this week she has registered back-to-back home runs in a game.