Bloomington, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder softball team split their first CCIW doubleheader of the season on Wednesday, when they traveled to Bloomington to face off against Illinois Wesleyan (3-5, 1-3 CCIW). The Thunder (4-4, 1-1 CCIW) defeated the Titans 9-0 in five innings in the opening game and the Titans defeated the Thunder 6-3 in the second game.
Today marked Wheaton's first win against Illinois Wesleyan since the Thunder defeated the Titans in the 2016 CCIW tournament. It was the first regular season victory against the Titans for the Thunder program in 17 games, breaking a streak that previously stretched back to April 23, 2011.
Wheaton scored nine runs on seven hits and recorded no errors in the 9-0 victory in game one, while Illinois Wesleyan tallied three hits with four errors in the contest. Starting pitcher
Emilie Gist earned the win in five innings, tossing a complete game shutout. Gist struck out four opposing batters, walked two and allowed three hits. At the plate, Gist was 1-2 with a single and two RBIs.
Melissa Meiners went 2-3 with two singles and
Ashley Carter was 1-4 at the plate with four RBIs off of a fourth-inning grand slam.
Alex Hilton,
Estelle Rios and
Madison Forberg each tallied one hit apiece.
Both teams struggled offensively to start the game, combining for only three hits in the first three innings of play. In the top of the fourth inning, the Thunder offense took control, scoring all nine of their runs in the frame. With one out, Gist started the rally when she was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second base after Meiners singled.
Claire Busch drew a walk to load the bases, and Forberg singled to bring in the first run of the game. A fielder's choice resulted in the another out, but the Thunder went on to score eight consecutive runs with two outs.
Sydney Heinrich drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in another run, and Carter (PICTURED LEFT) broke the inning open with a grand slam home run to bring the score to 6-0. After the bases-clearing home run, Wheaton continued the offensive production.
Paige Andrews was hit by a pitch, Hilton singled to centerfield, and then Gist hit a single down the rightfield line to score two more runs. Gist would go on to score on a throwing error two plays later to bring the Thunder lead to 9-0.
The Thunder defense was stout in the following two innings, holding the Titans in their final two at-bats to earn the 9-0 victory.
In the second game, Illinois Wesleyan defeated the Thunder, 6-3. Wheaton scored three runs on eight hits with one error, and the Titans scored six runs on 11 hits while tallying one error. Busch was 2-3 at the plate, Meiners was 2-4 with an RBI and Carter tallied an RBI double. Carter was also the game's starting pitcher, tossing five innings and allowing nine runs with three walks and a strikeout. Gist came on in relief for the final two innings of the game, allowing one run and striking out five.
Unlike in game one, both offenses were rolling from the beginning in the nightcap. Illinois Wesleyan scored in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but Meiners' RBI single scored Hilton to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. The Titans added another run to their total in the second inning, but Wheaton once again answered. In the bottom of the second, Forberg led off with a single, Heinrich walked, and Carter hit an RBI double to bring the game to a tie. A fielder's choice by Hilton scored Heinrich, pushing the Thunder to a 2-1 lead after two innings.
After a scoreless third inning for both teams, Illinois Wesleyan retook the lead in the top of the fourth inning when they scored two runs to bring the score to 3-2. The Thunder were unable to generate any more offense throughout the game, while Illinois Wesleyan tacked on two more runs in the final two innings on their way to a 6-3 victory.
Wheaton will be back in action against Augustana College in a CCIW doubleheader on Saturday, March 27, set to begin at 1:00 p.m.
