Holland, Mich. – The Wheaton softball team (6-10) split a non-conference doubleheader at Hope College (10-4) on Wednesday afternoon. The Flying Dutch defeated the Thunder 7-2 in the opener and Wheaton furiously rallied to win the nightcap 14-8.
Wheaton won today's second game 14-8 as the Thunder scored 14 runs, on 20 hits, with zero errors and Hope tallied eight runs, on eight hits, with three errors. Wheaton used four pitchers in the victory, highlighted by 3-1/3 innings scoreless innings from
Maddy Whitmer as she scattered two hits.
Kelly Thornton (4-5) earned the win in 1-2/3 innings of scoreless work, allowing just one hit, with one walk.
Thornton,
Claire Busch,
Melody Rodriguez,
Morgan Ryan and
Hannah Clark each recorded three hits for the Thunder in the victory. Thornton drove in a team-high five runs as she and
Melissa Meiners each hit a home run. Meiners and
Ashley Carter each recorded two hits.
Hope scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and added four more runs in the bottom of the second as the hosts jumped out to 7-0 lead through two innings. The Thunder trimmed Hope's lead to 7-4 in the top of the third inning as Wheaton scored four runs in the inning. Busch, Rodriguez and Ryan each hit RBI-singles in the inning. Hope scored a run in the bottom of the third inning to extend its lead to 8-4.
Thornton hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning and Ryan drove in a run with a RBI-single to tie the game at 8-8. The Thunder offense exploded for six runs in the top of the seventh inning to lock up the victory. Thornton hit a two-run double in the inning, Meiners followed with a three-run homer and
Janette Oh drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Hope defeated the Thunder 7-2 in the first game. The Flying Dutch scored seven runs, on 10 hits, with one error and Wheaton tallied two runs, on seven hits, with two errors. Carter hit a double for the Thunder as Ryan and Craver each drove in runs. Oh, Thornton, Meiners, Busch, Rodriguez and Ryan each hit singles for the guests.
Hope scored one run in the bottom of the first inning and added two more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead. Ryan drew a bases loaded walk in the top of the sixth and Craver drove in a run on a groundout in the same inning as Wheaton trimmed the hosts' lead to 3-2. Hope added four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to account for the 7-2 final score.
Wheaton returns home on Saturday to host Millikin in the CCIW opener for both teams. The twinbill against the Big Blue is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. at Ruth Leedy Field.
