Clermont, Fla. – The Thunder softball team dropped back-to-back contests in its third day of competition at The Spring Games in Florida Tuesday afternoon. In the first match-up of the day, Wheaton fell to Plymouth State University, 8-1, and in the nightcap, the Thunder lost a tight battle with the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg by a final of 5-3.
Against Plymouth State, Wheaton struggled to string together any offensive firepower, tallying just four hits to the Panthers' 11. The Thunder also recorded two defensive errors, two walks, seven strikeouts, and left six runners on base, while Plymouth State had no errors, five walks, just two strikeouts, and 10 runners left on base.
Wheaton jumped on the board early in the first, scoring its first and only run after just four batters. Janette Oh drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on an Ashley Carter sacrifice bunt, then scored on a two-out single from Claire Busch. The Thunder held off the Panthers offense for two innings, but eventually allowed two runs in the third, two in the fifth, and four more in the sixth to put the comeback out of reach.
In the circle, Emilie Gist threw 5.1 innings, facing 33 batters and allowing 11 runs (8 earned). She also tossed four walks and two strikeouts. Maddy Whitmer took over for a partial inning, facing two batters, followed by Oh who faced and retired the final batter.
Gist, Busch, Elise O'Neil, and Maddy Bonetto each earned a hit for the Thunder. In addition to scoring the lone run, Oh drew two walks, and Busch earned an RBI.
In the nightcap against Pitt-Greensburg, Wheaton again jumped on the scoreboard first, before falling behind 3-1 in the fifth and then rallying to tie the game heading into the seventh. But the Bobcats put together a rally of their own, scoring two more in the seventh, and the Thunder were unable to string together a second comeback.
Wheaton's first run came in the first inning on a two-out, bases loaded single from O'Neil. In the bottom of the fifth, trailing 3-1, Gist drew a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then scored on a single from Carter. Following another lead-off walk in the sixth, this time from Estelle Rios, the Thunder tied the game after Rios stole second and then scored on a double to center from Oh.
Despite the late offensive surge, Wheaton was unable to carry over its momentum onto defense; the Panthers loaded the bases with no outs and went on to score the go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh. The Thunder managed two singles to centerfield in their half of the frame, but stumbled on a double-play and a strikeout to end the back-and-forth game.
As a team, Wheaton had nine hits, seven walks, two strikeouts, and left nine runners on base. Pitt-Greensburg notched 11 hits, two walks, two strikeouts, and left eight runners on base. The Thunder committed three defensive errors in the contest, while the Panthers had none.
Oh led Wheaton at the plate, going 3-for-3 with one RBI, one run and one walk. Gist went 2-for-2 with a run and two walks, and O'Neil went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Carter and Sydney Heinrich each also added a hit for the Thunder.
Carter threw a complete game in the circle, facing 36 batters and allowing 11 hits, five runs, two walks and two strikeouts.
After a day of rest Wednesday, Wheaton will return to spring break action Thursday at the Minneola Athletic Complex. At 4:00 p.m. (EST), the Thunder will face the University of Mount Union, and at 6:30 p.m. (EST), Wheaton will face familiar Chicagoland foe Lake Forest College.
