Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton softball team hosted North Central College on Monday afternoon for a single game. Today's matchup was the completion of a doubleheader that was originally started with only game one played on April 2. North Central (13-12, 9-10 CCIW) defeated Wheaton 7-1 in today's contest. Wheaton is now 11-13 on the season and 8-10 in CCIW play.

The Cardinals scored seven runs, on nine hits, with one error and Wheaton tallied one run, on eight hits, with three errors. Thunder starting pitcher Emelie Gist (8-7) tossed five innings for the Thunder. She allowed six runs, including three earned runs, on seven hits, with two walks. Alese Antonello pitched an inning of relief with one earned run, on two hits, with two strikeouts.

Janette Oh was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Thunder. Alex Hilton had a 2-for-4 effort at the plate. Melissa Meiners hit a double and scored one run. Sydney Heinrich, Madison Forberg and Gist each hit a single.

North Central reach the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. The Cardinals added two runs in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 3-0. NCC broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to increase its lead to 6-0.

Meiners led off the top of the sixth inning with a double to left centerfield for the Thunder. She reached third base on a groundout in the next at bat. Oh hit a two-out single to right centerfield that brough Meiners home to trim the Cardinals' lead to 6-1. North Central added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to account for the 7-1 final score.

The Thunder doubleheader originally scheduled for tomorrow against Elmhurst at Ruth Leedy Field has been canceled due to COVID protocols for the Elmhurst program. The twinbill with the Bluejays will not be rescheduled.

Wheaton hosts Carroll on Thursday afternoon for a doubleheader. Thursday's twinbill with the Pioneers begins at 3:00 p.m.