Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton softball team (9-5) swept a home doubleheader against Concordia University Chicago (4-6) on Thursday afternoon. The Thunder won game one 3-2 in eight innings. Wheaton closed out the twinbill with a 6-5 victory.
Wheaton won today's opener 3-2 as the hosts scored three runs, on 12 hits, with three errors and the Cougars tallied two runs, on five hits, with three errors. Thunder starting pitcher
Alese Antonello (3-4) earned the win in eight innings of work in the circle. She allowed two runs, scattering five hits, with five strikeouts and two walks. Antonello (PICTURED LEFT) helped her own cause at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.
Senior
Paige Andrews was 2-for-4, with a home run and a double as she scored twice with a RBI. Designated player
Abby Whitehead was 2-for-4 with a RBI. Freshman
Livi Figueroa was 2-for-2 with a RBI.
Wheaton scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning to gain a 2-0 lead. Andrews led off the top of the fourth inning with a line drive solo home run over Ruth Leedy Field's leftfield fence. The Cougars responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the contest 2-2. The game remained tied and headed to extra innings.
Wheaton scored its game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth in walk-off fashion. Andrews led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double to leftfield and she scampered to third base on a Concordia throwing error. Whitehead followed in the next at bat with a single down the leftfield line that brought Andrews home for the game-winning run.
Wheaton earned a 6-5 victory in the nightcap. The Thunder scored six runs, on 11 hits, with no errors and Concordia Chicago tallied five runs, on 10 hits, with two errors. Andrews was the starting pitcher for the Thunder as she worked two innings. The senior allowed one run, on three hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Freshman
Shylah Dozeman (5-1) earned the win in four innings of relief. She allowed four runs, on seven hits, with four walks. Antonello picked up the save in one inning of scoreless relief as she held the Cougars hitless.
Figueroa was 2-for-2 in the second contest. Antonello had a 2-for-3 effort, with two RBI. Andrews was 2-for-4 with two doubles as she drove in two runs and scored twice.
Elizabeth Meyer was 2-for-4, scoring one run.
Concordia scored once in the top of the first inning and Wheaton responded with three in the bottom of the first to gain a 3-1 lead. Meyer led off the Wheaton portion of the first with a single and
Madison Forberg was hit by a pitch. Andrews hit a two-run double that drove in both baserunners. Antonello followed later in the inning with a RBI-single that drove in Andrews.
Concordia scored a run in the top of the third inning to cut Wheaton's lead to 3-2. The Thunder added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Andrews led off the third with a double and was followed by a single from Whitehead. Antonello drove in Andrews on a RBI-single, and Whitehead scored later in the inning on a Concordia error.
Each team scored one run in the fourth inning as the Thunder led 6-3 after four innings.
Olivia Nahorniak hit a solo home run over the leftfield fence in the bottom of the fourth. The Cougars scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to trim Wheaton's advantage to 6-5. Dozeman forced the guests into a three-up-and-three down situation in top of the sixth. Antonello entered the game in the top of the seventh and shut the Cougars of the scoreboard to secure the save and preserve the 6-5 Thunder victory.
Wheaton is scheduled to travel to St. Mary's (Ind.) for a doubleheader on Saturday. The twinbill with the Belles is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).
