Decatur, Ill. – The Thunder softball team traveled to Decatur to face off against the Millikin Big Blue in a conference twinbill on Tuesday. Millikin (23-10, 20-7 CCIW) won the first game 9-7, and Wheaton (13-17, 10-14 CCIW) won game two 1-0.
 
The Big Blue won game one 9-7 with nine runs, on ten hits, with one error and the Thunder scored seven runs, on 12 hits, with six errors. Emilie Gist started the game in the circle for Wheaton and went the distance, tossing a complete game and allowing six earned runs while striking out four. Gist was also two-for-four at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Paige Andrews was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Melissa Meiners added two hits and drove in two runs.
 
Wheaton started the game off hot in the top off the first inning, scoring three runs in their first at-bat. The Thunder quickly loaded the bases with no outs when Janette Oh led off the inning with a single and Ashley Carter and Emilie Gist reached on back-to-back errors. Meiners singled down the leftfield line to drive home two runs, and Gist stole home two plays later to bring the score to 3-0.
 
After Millikin added one run in the bottom of the first, two and a half scoreless innings passed by. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Big Blue sprang to life, scoring five runs. Millikin had four hits in the frame, and three Thunder errors in the inning added to the damage and allowed the Big Blue to take the lead, 6-3.
 
Not to be counted out, Wheaton answered Millikin's scoring with three runs of their own in the top of the fifth inning, tying the game at 6-6. Gist was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Meiners then singled, pushing the runner to third. Claire Busch reached on an error to bring home one run, and two plays later, Andrews also reached on a defensive miscue, scoring Meiners. Sarah Major singled down the rightfield line to drive in the third run of the inning before a double play ended the rally.
 
Millikin broke the tie with a solo homerun in the bottom of the fifth, moving the score to 7-6 in their favor. In the top of the sixth inning, Oh walked to start things off and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Elizabeth Meyer. Gist doubled to left center on the next play, scoring Oh and tying the game 7-7.
 
Neither team could bring a runner home in the seventh or eighth innings, forcing the game into the ninth still knotted at 7-7. Wheaton attempted to mount a rally in the top of the inning when Andrews singled with one out, but the Thunder were quickly retired after a fielder's choice and a groundout.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Gist and the Thunder got a quick out on a Millikin pop fly to the second baseman, but the second batter of the inning singled and moved to second base on a wild pitch. With the winning run on second base, Big Blue freshman Leah Foreman hit a two-run homerun to left-centerfield to walk off and win the game for Millikin, 9-7.
 
The Thunder won the nightcap 1-0 with one run, on three hits, with two errors and Millikin managed five hits with one error. Alese Antonello (PICTURED LEFT) started the game for Wheaton and pitched her third consecutive complete game without allowing an earned run. Antonello allowed five hits and didn't walk any opposing batters in another strong performance from the circle. Janette Oh, Melissa Meiners and Elise O'Neil each had hits for the Thunder, and O'Neil scored the lone run of the game.
 
Despite the hefty amount of offense in the opening game, both teams struggled to get runners on base and in scoring position in the second game. In the first two innings, the teams managed only one hit between them. Millikin threatened for the first time in the top of the third inning, scattering back-to-back singles with one out, but Wheaton escaped the inning unscathed after a fielder's choice and a flyout.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning, the game headed into the fifth still tied 0-0. Antonello retired the Millikin side in order in the top of the fifth, and the Thunder finally broke the tie in the bottom of the frame. O'Neil led off the inning with a single and was pushed over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Meyer. Sydney Heinrich then moved O'Neil to third on a groundout to the second baseman. Oh walked to give Wheaton a first-and-third opportunity with two outs, and a wild pitch by the Big Blue brought O'Neil home from third to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Millikin looked to rally with a leadoff double, but the Thunder snuffed out the chance with an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. Although the Thunder went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, Antonello and the Wheaton defense held stout in the top of the seventh inning, getting three quick outs and solidifying the 1-0 Thunder victory.
 
Wheaton travels to Naperville to face off against the North Central Cardinals in a CCIW doubleheader on Thursday, April 29, starting at 3:00 p.m.