Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton softball team (8-10, 2-0 CCIW) swept No. 19 ranked Millikin University (14-4, 0-2 CCIW) on Saturday in the CCIW opening doubleheader for both teams. The Thunder rallied to win the first game 12-11 in 10 innings and Wheaton shut out the Big Blue 9-0 in the nightcap.

Wheaton rallied multiple times in the dramatic opening win to pick up the 12-11 victory. The Thunder scored 12 run, on 16 hits, with four errors and Millikin tallied 11 runs, on 11 hits, with two errors. Thunder starting pitcher Kelly Thornton (5-5) earned the win in 8-2/3 innings. She allowed nine runs, including seven earned runs, on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Janette Oh worked 1-1/3 innings of relief, allowing two runs, on two hits, with one strikeout.

Freshman Maddie Craver (PICTURED LEFT) was 5-for-7 at the plate including the game winning, two-out, RBI-single in the bottom of the tenth inning. Ashley Carter, Kelly Thornton, Melody Rodriguez, and Hannah Clark each collected two hits for the hosts.

Millikin struck early with two runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Wheaton tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs. Carter drove in one run in the inning on a fielder's choice and Craver had a bunt single to drive in the game-tying run. Millikin regained the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 5-2 lead. The Thunder added four runs in the bottom of the fourth to regain the advantage at 6-5. Carter hit a RBI-single in the fourth and Thornton added a two-run double.

Millikin rallied with four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 9-5 lead. Wheaton responded with a five-run effort in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the hosts an 11-9 edge. Clark and Claire Busch each hit RBI-singles in the innings and Carter contributed a two-run single for the Thunder. Millikin scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 11-11. Following a scoreless seventh inning by both teams, the contest went to extra innings.

The Thunder held Millikin hitless in the quiet eighth and ninth innings. Wheaton threatened to end the game in the bottom of the ninth as the Thunder loaded the bases with two outs, however, the Big Blue pitched out of the jam to send the game to the tenth inning. Thornton kept Millikin quiet in the tenth, allowing just one baserunner that reached on a Thunder error.

Rodriguez led off the bottom of the 10^th for the Thunder with a single. She missed the tag on a fielder's choice at second base on a sacrifice by Morgan Ryan to put runners at first and second with no outs. Oh drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Rodriguez was out on a force play and Carter flied out to left field in the next two at bats to setup the bases loaded for the Thunder with two outs. Craver stepped up to the plate and the freshman hit a single to center field that brought Ryan home for the dramatic game-winning run.

Wheaton won the nightcap 9-0 in six innings as the Thunder scored nine runs, on 12 hits with no errors and Millikin had zero runs, on four hits with no errors. Maddy Whitmer (1-0) pitched six strong innings to earn her first collegiate win. Whitmer held Millikin scoreless, scattering four hits, with four walks and no strikeouts.

Rodriguez was 4-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored as she hit a double. Melissa Meiners was 3-for-4 with a double as she drove in two runs. Carter was 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI as contributed a double.
Wheaton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a RBI-single by Ryan. The Thunder lead was increased to 2-0 on a RBI-double by Meiners. Clark hit a RBI-single in the top of the fourth inning and Carter drove her in on a RBI-double to give the Thunder a 4-0 lead.

Rodriguez hit a RBI-single in the top of the fifth inning to extend Wheaton's lead to 5-0. Wheaton scored four times in the top of the sixth inning to account for the 9-0 final score. Meiners and Rodriguez hit RBI singles in the sixth and Thornton drove in two runs with a single to right field.

Wheaton returns to action on Tuesday when the Thunder hosts Trinity Christian College for a non-conference doubleheader at 3:00 p.m.