Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Thunder softball team played the first of two doubleheaders over the next two days in Michigan. Wheaton traveled to No. 18 Calvin College for Tuesday's matchup. The Knights defeated the Thunder 9-1 in today's opener and Calvin completed the doubleheader sweep with a 5-3 victory in the nightcap.

Calvin won today's opener 9-1 as the Knights scored nine runs, on nine hits, with three errors and Wheaton tallied one run, on two hits with three errors. Thunder starting pitcher Ashley Carter tossed 2-1/3 innings, allowing six runs, with one earned run. She scattered four hits and struck out one. Janette Oh pitched 2-1/3 innings of relief, allowing three runs, including one earned run, on five hits. Kelly Thornton hit a double and Melody Rodriguez added a single to account for Wheaton's two hits in the game.

Calvin scored twice in the bottom of the first inning and the Knights added a run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. Hannah Clark scored on a Calvin error in the top of the third inning as Wheaton trimmed the Calvin lead to 3-1. The Knights scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend the hosts' lead to 8-1 and Calvin added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to account for the 9-1 final score.

Calvin won the nightcap 5-3 as the Knights scored five runs, on nine hits, with no errors and Wheaton tallied three runs, on four hits with three errors. Thornton pitched all six innings for the Thunder. The senior allowed five runs, including two earned runs, on nine hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. Thornton, Carter, Melissa Meiners and Claire Busch each hit singles to account for Wheaton's four hits in the game.

Carter drove in Oh on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning to give Wheaton a 1-0 lead. Calvin scored twice in the top of the second inning to extend its lead to 2-1. The Knights added a run in the top of the third inning and scored two more runs in fourth to give the hosts a 5-1 lead. Thornton scored on a passed ball in the top of the sixth inning and Carter crossed the plate on a ground out by Morgan Ryan in the inning as Wheaton trimmed the hosts' lead to 5-3.

Wheaton concludes its trip on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Hope College.