GAME STATS 1 | GAME STATS 2 Clermont, Fla. -- The Wheaton Thunder softball team wrapped up its spring break trip Friday with a pair of afternoon games. Wheaton fell to Clarkson University 7-5 before dropping a contest against the University of Dubuque 11-1 in five innings. The Thunder, who have played 10 games in Florida over the last seven days, will leave The Spring Games tournament with a record of 5-5.

In the first contest of the day, the Thunder took on Clarkson in a back-and-forth battle that saw both teams tied at 4-4 after five innings before Clarkson pulled away for the win. The Golden Knights scored two runs in the top of the first to lead off the contest, but the Thunder were able to answer right away in their half of the inning. Janette Oh led off with a double to center, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored a few pitches later on a Kelly Thornton double to left field to bring the score to 2-1.

The Thunder and Golden Knights traded punches again in the third, as Clarkson tacked on two more runs and Wheaton answered in the bottom of the inning. Thornton reached first on an error and advanced on a Morgan Ryan single to right field, and then both runners scored thanks to a double from Maddie Craver.

In the fifth inning, the Thunder tied the ballgame on freshman Ashley Carter's first career home run, but the equalizer was short lived; the Golden Knights added two more runs in the the next inning and then changed pitchers, leading to a scoreless sixth for Wheaton and a 6-5 game heading into the seventh.

Clarkson tacked on an insurance run in their final inning, but the Thunder looked poised to answer as Carter singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, with two outs, Melissa Meiners singled and advanced on a Clarkson fielding error, which allowed Carter to score and bring the Thunder within two runs. However, the rally fell short and Wheaton dropped the contest by a final of 7-5.

Carter started in the circle for the Thunder, pitching two full innings, giving up four hits, four runs (three earned) and four walks. Oh tossed the remaining five innings and took the loss, giving up eight hits, three runs, three strikeouts and one walk.

Carter led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two hits, while Ryan and Meiners each went 2-for-4. As a team, the Thunder had 11 hits and drew one walk but tallied five strikeouts and two defensive errors.

Game two was a quieter offensive outing for Wheaton, and a strong-hitting Dubuque squad plated nine runs in just four half-innings to earn the victory.

Wheaton's lone run came in the top of the first inning on an Ashley Carter home run -- her second of the day. The Thunder threatened again in the fourth with back-to-back singles from Thornton and Carter, but were unable to turn their momentum into scoring opportunities and fell by a final of 9-1 in five innings.

Thornton took the loss for Wheaton, pitching two innings, giving up five runs, five hits, and three walks. Carter pitched an inning as well, allowing four runs (two earned) on five walks with one strikeout. And in her first appearance of the year, Maddie Whitmer threw a clean fourth inning, allowing just one hit and retiring three of the four batters she faced.

Once again, Carter led the Thunder offensively, going 2-for-2. Thornton and Melody Rodriguez eached added a hit for Wheaton in the contest.
After a weekend of rest, the Thunder will return to action next Wednesday, March 20, against Aurora University. The doubleheader will be Wheaton's first home contest of the 2019 season; first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at Ruth Leedy Field.