Kalamazoo, Mich. -- The Wheaton softball team traveled east for a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon, with the Kalamazoo College Hornets playing host to the Thunder. The home side took the first contest by a score of 3-0, but the visitors fought back to claim the second game, 8-3. As a result of today's action, Wheaton's record moves to 10-6 ahead of the start of conference play.
The two teams began the first game in chilly and breezy conditions, but this did not stop Wheaton's
Ashley Carter from getting a hit on the first at-bat of the day. The senior eventually worked her way up to third base, but the Thunder did not manage to bring her home, and the hosts escaped the top of the inning without conceding. Kalamazoo then opened the scoring after a double to left center field was followed by a wild pitch that allowed the runner on third to cross home plate. Wheaton again threatened to score when
Olivia Nahorniak fired off a double of her own, but once again, the hosts got out of the inning without allowing the Thunder on the scoreboard. After the next two exchanges proved fruitless for either side, Kalamazoo picked up what turned out to be the last runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning. A one-run RBI double and a sacrifice fly combined to give the Hornets a firm advantage, and from that point on, Wheaton never truly threatened to overturn the deficit. The visitors did not manage another hit in the remainder of the game, and Kalamazoo overcame two fielding errors to hold off their challengers. Despite some sharp fielding from the Thunder defense in the latter stages, Wheaton's bats remained cold and the hosts saw out the win without much trouble.
Sydney Heinrich earned the final hit of the first game for Wheaton via a single in the top of the third inning.
Emilie Gist was the lone pitcher on the mound for the Thunder in game one, and despite taking the loss, the junior collected five strikeouts across six innings pitched. The runs and hits categories did not turn out in Wheaton's favor, but the Thunder did not commit any errors in the game while Kalamazoo posted two.
Part two of Tuesday's doubleheader unfolded in a very similar way for the home side. Just as it happened in the first game, Kalamazoo scored three runs, and all of them came in the first three innings. But unfortunately for the Hornets, the visitors found their swing this time around and Wheaton blitzed their hosts, 8-3, to avoid the sweep.
Back-to-back strikeouts for the Thunder in the top of the first inning threatened to deliver an early blow, but the guests rebounded by firing off three consecutive singles, and
Emilie Gist crossed home plate to open the scoring. Two early errors by the Hornets' fielders set the tone for the game, which eventually saw Kalamazoo commit five across the seven innings of play. But the hosts managed to tie the scoreline in the bottom of the second frame courtesy of a pair of consecutive doubles. After blanking Wheaton in their next offensive series, Kalamazoo pulled into a 3-1 lead after three singles and a sacrifice fly brought a pair of Hornets runners home. This sequence followed the script of Tuesday's first game, and it looked as though Wheaton's early score might prove insufficient.
But the game turned in the top of the fourth inning, as the Thunder rattled off six unanswered runs in the remainder of the contest to stun their hosts.
Madison Forberg started the surge by capitalizing on two more Kalamazoo errors after she had reached second base on a double to cut the lead down to 3-2. Then in the top of the fifth, Gist claimed the play of the game by launching a two-run homer over the left field wall to put Wheaton in front. After blanking the Hornets' batters once again, Wheaton cemented their victory in the top of the sixth inning by adding four more runs to the scoreline. An
Ashley Carter double combined with a throwing error from Kalamazoo allowed
Sydney Heinrich and
Gracey Rockness to round the bases, before Carter herself finished the job and
Janette Oh scored via a
Paige Andrews single. The Thunder only gave up four hits after the third inning, and after failing to mount a successful comeback in the first game, Wheaton turned the tables on their hosts in game two and picked up an impressive road win in the process.
Alese Antonello pitched all seven innings for Wheaton in today's win, and the Alabama Hammer registered six strikeouts, the last two of which ended the game in the bottom of the seventh frame.
Emilie Gist went from pitcher to scorer in game two, posting two hits, two runs, and a team-high three RBIs.
Paige Andrews led the Thunder with three hits and picked up an RBI for good measure.
Ashley Carter collected two, as well as one hit and one run.
Janette Oh joined Gist on two hits and a pair of runs, while also grabbing a stolen base.
Madison Forberg and
Sydney Heinrich each earned one hit and one run.
Estelle Rios,
Olivia Nahorniak, and
Claire Busch each posted a hit, with the latter also chalking up one RBI. Overall, Wheaton out-hit their hosts 13-11 in game two and managed to avoid committing a single error across Tuesday's fourteen innings.
The Thunder will look to build off of today's 1-1 showing when they host North Park on Thursday in their conference opener. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 PM at Ruth Leedy Field.
