Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton softball team (15-17/6-6 CCIW) hosted North Central (23-7/7-1 CCIW) in a CCIW doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The twinbill, originally scheduled for Thursday, was moved to today to avoid potential Thunderstorms in the forecast for tomorrow. North Central defeated Wheaton 13-4 in five innings in today's opening game and the Cardinals completed the sweep with a 4-2 victory in the second game.
North Central won today's first game 13-4 as the Cardinals scored 13 runs, on 17 hits, with two errors and Wheaton tallied four runs, on six hits, committing six errors. Wheaton used three pitchers in the game as
Kelly Thornton,
Janette Oh and
Maddy Whitmer pitched five total innings, combining for 13 total runs, including six earned runs. Thornton was 2-for-3, with a double, one run scored and a RBI.
The Cardinals scored twice in the top of the first inning and the Thunder responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Ashley Carter led off the bottom of the first inning for the Thunder with a single to right field. Thornton's double to left centerfield brought Carter home and
Claire Busch hit a single to centerfield that brought Thornton home to tie the game at 2-2.
North Central gained a 5-2 lead with three runs in the top of the second inning. The Cardinals increased their lead to 6-2 with a run in the top of the third inning and the guests added another run in the top of the fourth to extend the NCC lead to 7-2. North Central added six runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 13-2. Wheaton scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to account for the 13-4 final score.
Melissa Meiners drove in a pair of runs with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
North Central accomplished the sweep of the doubleheader with a 4-2 victory in the second game. The Cardinals scored four runs, on nine hits, with two errors and Wheaton tallied two runs, on three hits, with one error. Starting pitcher
Ashley Carter allowed two runs on two hits and two walks. Thornton worked 5-2/3 innings of relief as she allowed two runs, on seven hits, with two walks and five strikeouts. Thornton, Carter and Meiners each tallied a hit for Wheaton in the game.
North Central scored twice in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals extended their lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Wheaton scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to trim the NCC lead to 4-2. Carter blistered a RBI-single down the first base line into rightfield to drive in
Maddie Craver and trim the guests' lead to 4-1. Meiners hit a RBI-single to centerfield that brought Carter home to account for the 4-2 final score.
Wheaton travels to Carroll on Saturday for a CCIW doubleheader against the Pioneers. Saturday's twinbill starts at 1:00 p.m. in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
