Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton softball team opened CCIW play on Friday with a home doubleheader against Illinois Wesleyan. The Titans, ranked 10^th in the most recent NFCA Division III Coaches Poll, won both games by identical scores of 9-4.

Illinois Wesleyan rallied to win the opener 9-4 as the guests scored nine runs, on 13 hits, with no errors and Wheaton tallied four runs, on five hits, committing three errors. Thunder starting pitcher Kelly Thornton took the loss in the circle in 4-1/3 innings of work. She allowed eight runs, including seven earned runs, on 10 hits. Maddy Whitmer allowed one run in 2-2/3 innings of relief as she scattered three IWU hits.

Junior Kelly Thornton collected two of Wheaton's five hits, including a double. Hannah Clark, Megan Neuhaus and Sophia Kent each added singles for the Thunder.

Wheaton scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to gain a 4-0 lead on the Titans. Clark led off the third inning with a walk and stole both second and third bases. She scored on bunt by catcher Melody Rodriguez. Neuhaus followed with a RBI-single and Sophia Kent increased Wheaton's lead to 3-0 when she drew a bases loaded walk. Wheaton gained the 4-0 lead when Neuhaus crossed home plate on a wild pitch by IWU.

The Titans scored five runs on the top of the fourth inning to gain a 5-4 lead. IWU added three runs in the top of the fifth inning and added another run in the top of the seventh inning to account for the 9-4 final score.

Illinois Wesleyan also won the nightcap 9-4 as the Titans scored nine runs, on 11 hits, with one error and Wheaton tallied four runs, on nine hits, with three errors. Thunder senior Kendall Kehres took the loss in six innings of work in the circle. Kehres allowed nine runs, including six earned runs, on 11 hits.

Thornton hit a pair of doubles, as she was 2-for-4 with one run scored. Leftfielder Maddy Bonetto was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Morgan Ryan was 2-for-3, scoring twice with a RBI. Clark, Rodriguez and Neuhaus each added singles for the hosts' offense.

Wheaton gained an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Thornton hit a one-out double to centerfield, followed by a single for Ryan. Rodriguez hit a single to left centerfield to load the bases. Neuhaus belted a single to right centerfield to collect Wheaton's fourth-consecutive hit as Thornton scored on the play. A single to rightfield by Bonetto brought Ryan home to give Wheaton a 2-0 lead. The Titans scored once in the bottom of the first inning to cut the Thunder lead to 2-1 and IWU added three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-2 lead.

IWU increased its lead to 6-2 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and the guests added run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. Bonetto hit a RBI-single in the top of the sixth inning to cut the Titans' lead to 7-3.

Wheaton returns to action on Saturday for 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against Hope College at Ruth Leedy Field.