Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder softball team hosted Rockford University (10-15) on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader at Ruth Leedy Field. The Thunder swept the pair with the Regents as Wheaton won the first game 10-2 and the hosts rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the second game 4-3.
The Thunder won today's opener 10-2 as the hosts scored 10 runs, on eight hits, and zero errors. Rockford scored twice, with seven hits, committing three errors. Thunder starting pitcher
Emilie Gist (7-6) earned the complete game win with six innings of work. Gist allowed two earned runs, on seven hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Gist helped her own cause at the plate as she was 2-for-3, with two RBI and a run scored.
Paige Andrews was 2-for-4, including a double, with three runs scored.
Alese Antonello hit a home run for the Thunder and
Olivia Nahorniak belted a grand slam.
The Regents scored a run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. The Thunder gained a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs thanks to a two-run homer by Antonello in the bottom of the second inning. Rockford tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the third inning. Wheaton regained the lead, a 3-2 advantage, with a run in the bottom of the third inning as the result of an RBI-single by Gist.
Nahorniak belted a grand slam over the fence in left field in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase Wheaton's lead to 7-2. The game ended on the eight-run rule as Wheaton scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 10-2 final result.
Estelle Rios had a well-placed double to rightfield that scored Antonello and Elizabeth Myer. Wheaton's 10
th run came on a bunt single by Gist that brought Andrews home in a close play at the plate for the 10-2 score in favor of Wheaton.
The Thunder won the second game 4-3 as Wheaton scored four runs, on eight hits, with no errors and Rockford tallied three runs, on nine hits, with three errors. Antonello (6-9) earned the win in the circle as she pitched seven innings. Antonello allowed three runs, with two earned runs, on nine hits, with seven strikeouts and five walks. Meyer (PICTURED LEFT) was 3-for-3, with a double and she scored twice. Gist was 2-for-3 with two RBI, including the game-winning RBI.
Rockford scored a run in the top of the first inning and added two runs in the top of the third to take 3-0 lead. Meyer scored on a Rockford error in the bottom of the third inning, and Gist drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt that scored Andrews as Wheaton trimmed the guests' lead to 3-2 through three innings.
Wheaton started the bottom of the seventh inning trailing the Regents 3-2. Meyer led off the seventh with a double to centerfield, and she advanced on a ground out in the next at bat. Andrews stepped up to the plate and connected with a double into the gap in left centerfield that brought Meyer home to tie the game. There was a pop-up in the next at bat for Wheaton's second out of the inning. Gist connected with a pitch that she sent back up the middle and past second base into centerfield as her single drove Andrews home for the game-winning run.
Wheaton improves to 13-15 with today's sweep. The Thunder return to conference play on Tuesday with a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader at Elmhurst.
