Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder softball team won a lengthy CCIW contest against North Central on Friday afternoon, 8-7 in 12 innings. Due to the length of the first game and oncoming darkness, game two was not started. This game will be played on Monday, April 19 at 3:00 p.m. at Ruth Leedy Field. Wheaton is now 9-5 on the season with a 6-2 CCIW record. North Central is 4-7 this year with a 2-5 CCIW record.
Wheaton scored eight runs, on 18 hits with two errors and the Cardinals tallied seven runs, on 16 hits with two errors. Thunder starting pitcher
Emilie Gist (6-2) tossed all 12 innings for the hosts. She allowed seven runs, on 16 hits, with 12 strikeouts.
Claire Busch was 3-for-5, with a walk in the game. She hit a double, drove in three runs and scored once.
Alex Hilton was 3-for-6 with a walk, two runs scored and a RBI.
Sydney Heinrich was 3-for-6 with two doubles as she scored three runs.
Ashley Carter,
Melissa Meiners and
Madison Forberg each collected two hits for the hosts.
Wheaton broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning with four runs. Busch hit a three-run double to centerfield to highlight the inning. Busch scored on a sacrifice fly by
Paige Andrews. The Cardinals scored a run in the top of the fourth to cut Wheaton's lead to 4-1. Wheaton extended its lead to 5-1 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Heinrich hit a one-out double in the fourth and scored later on a North Central throwing error.
Each team scored a run in their respective portion of the fifth inning as Wheaton led 6-2 at the end of the fifth.
Madison Forberg hit a RBI-single for the Thunder in the fifth. Each team again scored one run in the sixth inning as the hosts led 7-3 through six innings. Hilton led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double and scored in the next at bat thanks to a pair of NCC wild pitches.
North Central rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 7-7.
Wheaton scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12
th inning to earn the 8-7 victory. Henrich led off the 12
th inning with a double to center field and she advanced to third base on a single by Carter. Hilton singled to centerfield to drive Heinrich home for the game-winning run.
Wheaton returns to action on Tuesday afternoon in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Thunder and the Firebirds are scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.