Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton softball team (7-5) swept Rockford University (5-3) in the home-opening doubleheader for the 2024 season. The Thunder capitalized on its opportunities to win game one, 3-1. Wheaton earned the sweep with an offensive burst in game two, with an 8-2 victory against the Regents.

The Thunder won the first game despite just one hit for the hosts. Wheaton scored three runs, on one hit, with no errors. Rockford was held scoreless on three hits, with two errors. Thunder starting pitcher Alese Antonello (2-3) earned the win in a seven-inning complete game effort. Antonello held the Regents scoreless on just three hits, with three strikeouts and three walks.

Wheaton's Livi Figueroa led off the bottom of the third inning. She reached on a Rockford fielding error. Outfielder Nicoe Allen stepped up to the plate and had a sacrifice bunt to advance Figueroa to second base. However, the throw to first base to get Allen out was errant as Figueroa scampered home and Allen advanced to third base on the error. Sydney Broderick hit an infield single to have runners at first and third. On the basepath's Broderick bolted for second base and on her steal of second base, Allen scampered down the third-base line to steal home for a double-steal that increased Wheaton's lead to 2-0 with no outs. Broderick reached third on a groundout on the next at bat and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Madison Forberg to give Wheaton a 3-0 lead.

Rockford's best opportunity to score came in the top of the sixth inning. The Regents led off the inning with a triple to rightfield. However, Antonello forced a groundout back to her in the circle for the first out as the runner stayed at third base. A line out to shortstop Olivia Nahorniak was the second out of the sixth inning with the runner remaining stranded at third. The fourth Rockford batter of the inning grounded out to Nahorniak as Antonello got out of the jam and Wheaton held onto its 3-0 lead. Antonello forced the Regents into a three-up-and-three down in the top of the seventh as the Thunder secured the 3-0 victory.
 
Wheaton won the nightcap 8-2 as the Thunder scored eight runs, on nine hits, with two errors. Rockford tallied two runs, on seven hits, with three errors. Starting pitcher Paige Andrews worked three innings, allowing two runs, with one earned run. Andrews scattered six hits with two walks allowed. Freshman Shylah Dozeman (4-1) earned the win in four innings of scoreless relief as she allowed just one hit and walked one batter.

Elizabeth Meyer was 2-for-4, with four RBI and two runs scored as she belted a grand slam. Forberg was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Freshman Abby Whitehead was 1-for-2, with three RBI and two runs scored as she hit a three-run home run in the contest.

Rockford scored two runs in the top of the third inning to gain an early 2-0 lead. The Thunder offense did not collect a hit in the first three innings. However, the Thunder bats came alive in the final three innings.

Forberg led off the top of the fourth innings with a single through the right side of the infield that was the first hit of the game for the Thunder. Andrews followed with a single as Forberg advanced to third base. Whitehead stepped up to the plate and blasted a massive three-run home run over the rightfield fence. Whitehead's blast allowed the Thunder to hold a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the fifth inning.

Meyer hit a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning, followed by a Forberg single. Meyer scored on the next at bat as Nahorniak hit a single to centerfield.

Whitehead led off the bottom of the sixth inning for the Thunder and was hit by a pitch. Mia Reinhard hit a one-out single and Abigail Latka drew a walk to load the bases. Meyer blasted a two-out grand slam over the leftfield fence to increase the hosts' lead to 8-2. Dozeman held Rockford off the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning to help Wheaton secure the 8-2 victory.

The Thunder softball team remains home for its next contest as Wheaton hosts Concordia-Chicago on Thursday for a doubleheader. Thursday's twinbill against the Cougars is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. at Ruth Leedy Field.