Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder softball team hosted Carthage College on Monday afternoon in Wheaton's final CCIW doubleheader of the 2018 season. The Lady Reds swept the twinbill as Carthage won the opener 2-1 and the guests took the finale 10-4.

Carthage won the first game 2-1 as the guests scored two runs, on eight hits, with one error and the Thunder tallied one run, on one hit, with no errors. Thunder starting pitcher Kelly Thornton tossed all seven inning, allowing two runs, on eight hits. 

Carthage took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the third inning. The Lady Reds added a run in the top of the fourth inning to increase the guests' lead to 2-0. 

Wheaton tallied a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Thornton led off the sixth with a walk and advanced to second base on a Carhage error. Julie Arthur hit ball deep into the hole at shortstop and Carthage was unable to make the play on Arthur at first base. As Carthage attempted to throw out Arthur, Thornton shrewdly rounded third base and headed home. The junior touched home just ahead of the tag to trim the Carthage lead to 2-1.

Carthage earned a 10-4 victory in the second game as the Lady Reds scored 10 runs, on 11 hits, with one error and Wheaton tallied four runs, on five hits, with two errors. Thunder senior pitcher Kendall Kehres worked six innings, allowing 10 runs, on 11 hits. Morgan Ryan was 2-for-2, with a walk and a RBI. Thornton added a triple and Megan Neuhuas contributed a single.

Thornton reached on a Carthage error in the top of the first inning and she scored two batters later on a ground out by Melody Rodriguez. Thornton's run gave Wheaton a 1-0 lead. The Lady Reds responded with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to game a 3-1 lead.

Wheaton added a run in the top of the second inning to cut the Carthage lead to 3-2. Ali Kent hit a one-out single in the top of the second inning and advance to second base and then third on successive Carthage wild pitches. Kent scored on a ground out by Maddy Bonetto.

Wheaton tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the top of the third inning. Megan Neuhaus led off the top of the third with a single to center field and she scored on a RBI-single by Morgan Ryan. 

Carthage snapped the 3-3 tie with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wheaton tied the contest at 4-4 with a Thunder run in the top of the fifth inning. Thornton hit a triple to right field with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and she scored on a Carthage pass ball to tie the matchup at 4-4. Carthage regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the guests a 5-4 edge. The guests added five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to account for the 10-4 final score.

Wheaton hosts Calvin for a doubleheader Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.