Montogmery, Ill. - The Wheaton College softball team faced Aurora University for a non-conference doubleheader against the Spartans. Aurora swept the twinbill with a 20-7 victory in the opener and the hosts closed out the doubleheader with an 8-1 victory in the second game. 

The Spartans won today's first game, 20-7. The hosts scored 20 runs, on 19 hits, with two errors and Wheaton tallied seven runs, with 10 hits, committing one error. Beka Behrens led the Thunder offense with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, scoring one run. Centerfielder Julia Arthur drove in a pair of runs and Ali Kent hit a solo home run, going 1-for-2. 

Hannah Clark led off the game with a single to centerfield and she promptly stole second base. Megan Neuhaus hit an infield single to advance Clark to third base that was followed by a swipe of second base by Neuhaus. Kelly Thornton lined out to centerfield for a sacrifice fly that brought Clark home. Neuhaus scored on an Aurora error on what would have been the third out of the inning. The runs by Clark and Neuhaus gave Wheaton a 2-0 lead after the first half inning. Aurora responded in the bottom of the first inning with 13 runs to take the lead for good.

Ali Kent hit a home run down the right field line in the top of the second inning. The Spartans scored four times in the bottom of the first inning to extend the hosts' lead to 17-3. Wheaton plated four runs in the top of the third inning to trim the Aurora lead to 17-7. Morgan Ryan and Ali Kent each hit a RBI-single in the inning and Arthur hit a two-single to left centerfield to aid the Thunder cause. Aurora scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to account for the 20-7 final score.

Aurora won the nightcap 8-1 as the Spartans scored eight runs, on 12 hits, with no errors and the Thunder scored one run, on three hits, committing two errors. Ryan was 2-for-2, with a walk in tonight's second game. Catcher Melody Rodriguez was 1-for-3 with a RBI.

Clark drew a leadoff walk and scored three batters later on a bunt single by Rodriguez to give Wheaton a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Spartans responded with one run in the bottom of the first inning to tie the contest at 1-1.

The Spartans gained a 2-1 lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The hosts extended the lead to 8-1 with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Wheaton opens its home schedule on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. against Wartburg College at Ruth Leedy Field.