GAME STATS 1 | GAME STATS 2 Clermont, Fla. -- The Wheaton softball team split a pair of games in their third day of action at The Spring Games in Florida. In game one, Wheaton defeated Becker College 11-5 thanks to several explosive innings; in game two, the Thunder fell 4-5 against Millsaps College.

In the first contest of the day, the Becker Hawks jumped on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Wheaton answered right away in the top of the third as Melody Rodriguez doubled to right center, advanced on a Hannah Clark single, and then both runners scored when Jeanette Oh doubled to left center.

Becker tacked on two more runs in their half of the third and maintained a 4-2 lead until the fifth, when Wheaton's bats came alive and Becker's defense suffered several miscues. Kelly Thornton reached first on a Hawks fielding error, then advanced to second on another error that also allowed Ashley Carter to reach base safely. Melissa Meiners then walked to load the bases, and Morgan Ryan took advantage of the momentum to launch a grand slam to deep center field, giving the Thunder a 6-4 lead.

In the sixth inning, facing a new pitcher, Thornton led off with a double, followed by a Carter single, before freshman Melissa Meiners hit her first career home run to tack on three insurance runs. Wheaton added two more for good measure in the top of the seventh, after Maddie Craver singled to left field, Oh walked, and then Carter scored both runners on a double to right field. The Hawks scored one more run and threatened with bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, but the Thunder shut down a potential rally to secure the 11-5 win.

In the circle, Carter got the start for the Thunder and pitched two innings, giving up four runs, three of them earned. She also struck out one batter and walked five. Oh took over for the remaining five innings and got the win for the Thunder -- her first career win as a collegiate pitcher -- allowing one run with five strikeouts and three walks.

Oh, Meiners and Rodriguez each went 2-for-4 in the contest, while Craver and Carter went 2-for-5.

In the second match-up of the day, Wheaton faced Millsaps; but despite a strong second inning and an early lead, the Thunder struggled to keep their bats going late in the game.

The Majors scored right away in the first inning thanks to back-to-back-to-back singles, but Wheaton was able to close out the inning with a double play. The Thunder then responded in the bottom of the second, scoring all four of their runs in a two-out rally. Maddie Bonetto, Hannah Clark, Craver and Oh drew four consecutive walks to score Wheaton's first run to tie the game; Thornton then singled to score Clark and Craver, and Oh scored a few pitches later on a passed ball.

Wheaton maintained the lead even after Millsaps scored twice in the top of the next inning, but the Thunder offense slowed down for the rest of the game and the Majors tacked on two more runs in the fourth and sixth innings to take a 5-4 advantage and secure the win.

Thornton tossed all seven innings for Wheaton, giving up three earned runs on 12 hits with three walks and two strikeouts. She also led the Thunder offensively, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk, and Clark went 1-for-2 from the plate.

After a day off tomorrow, Wheaton will return to Spring Break action on Thursday against Simpson College at 1:45 p.m. (EDT), followed by a 3:45 game against Worcester State University.