Aurora, Ill. - The Wheaton softball team split a doubleheader at Aurora University (7-1) on Wednesday afternoon. Aurora rallied to win the first game 4-2, while the Thunder rallied in the top of the seventh inning of game two defeat Aurora 5-4 and hand the Spartans their first loss of the 2022 season. Wheaton is now 7-3 on the season and returns to action next Tuesday with its home opener, a doubleheader against Concordia-Chicago.

The Thunder earned the twinbill split with a 5-4 victory in game two as Wheaton scored five runs, on nine hits, with one error, and Aurora tallied four runs, on eight hits, with zero errors. Starting pitcher Alese Antonello pitched 5-1/3 innings and re-entered the game in the seventh inning after leaving the game in the fifth to earn the save. Antonello allowed four runs, all earned, on seven hits, with three strikeouts and four walks. Emilie Gist earned the victory in 1-2/3 innings of relief. She held Aurora to one hit and struck out one. Ashley Carter was 2-for-4 at the plate, with a run scored. Estelle Rios and Sydney Heinrich each hit a double for the guests.

Following two scoreless innings, the Thunder were first to reach the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Paige Andrews hit a two-run home run to left center field in the third to give Wheaton the advantage. The Thunder lead was short-lived as the Spartans responded with two runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Wheaton regained the lead with one run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Rios hit a two-out double ro right center field and scored in the next at-bat as Heinrich hit a double that brought her home. The Spartan scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-3 advantage.

Carter led off the top of the seventh inning with a single and Janette Oh drew a walk in the next at bat. A sacrifice by Gist advanced each runner one base, followed by an intentional walk to Andrews to load the bases with one out. The Spartans induced a fielder's choice with Carter out at home for the second Thunder out of the inning. Olivia Nahorniak stepped up to the plate and following a foul ball that landed between three infielders between home plate and first base, she connected with a looping line drive single to center field  Nahorniak's single brought Oh home for the game-tying run and pinch runner Elizabeth Meyer scored for the go-ahead run. Gist picked up one out, and Antonello acquired the final two outs of the game, including a strikeout for the last out as Wheaton secured the win.

Aurora won today's opener, 4-2. The Spartans scored four runs, on seven hits, with two errors, and Wheaton plated two runs, collecting nine hits, with two errors. Gist took the loss in five innings, allowing seven hit. She allowed four runs, including two earned runs, with five strikeouts and two walks. Antonello pitched one inning of relief, with no hits allowed and one walk. Oh was 3-for-4 in the opening game. Andrews hit 2-for-3, scoring one run. 

Wheaton gained an early 1-0 lead, scoring one run in the top of the second inning. Andrews led off the second with a single to left field and she scored four batters later on a RBI-single by Elise O'Neil. The Spartans scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the contest at 1-1.

Wheaton regained the advantage by scoring one run in the top of the fiffth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Carter led off the fifth with a double, and she scored two batters later on a RBI-single to left field by Gist. The hosts rallied with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the 4-2 lead that would eventually become the final score.  Read Full Article