Wheaton, Ill. – After taking a short trip yesterday to take on the Benedictine Eagles, the Thunder softball team hosted the Carroll Pioneers for a conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Thunder took game one by a score of 5-1 while the Pioneers earned a 10-7 victory to split the season series.
In game one,
Abby Whitehead blasted her sixth home run of the season to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead. The Thunder added to their lead in the fourth inning with a
Livi Figueroa two-RBI single. While the Pioneers scored their first run in the following inning off a wild pitch, the Thunder padded their lead after
Shylah Dozeman scored off a wild pitch and
Ava Hartnett's sacrifice bunt allowed
Kennedy Kemp to cross home plate.
Dozeman and Whitehead each recorded two hits in their plate appearances. Meanwhile, Dozeman had an efficient outing in the circle. The junior pitcher earned her fifth win of the season by pitching a complete game, striking out six batters, giving up four hits, and allowing one earned run.
With the win, the Thunder snapped a six-game losing streak and picked up their first win in conference action.
In the second contest, the Pios jumped out to an early 3-0 lead headed into the bottom of the second inning. However, the Thunder scored their first run of game two as
Mia Reinhard took advantage of a Carroll fielding error.
Makena Malecha scored the second run for Wheaton after
Nori Kang was hit by a pitch with the bases were loaded.
Despite Carroll scoring three runs in the top of the third to take a 5-2 lead, the Thunder offense exploded with five runs of their own.
Bella Giles scored from second base due to a throwing error from the Pioneer's infielder. In the ensuing at-bats, Kemp and Kang drove in RBI singles to tie the game at 5-5. Kemp scored off a wild pitch while
Ava Hartnett capitalized on a passed ball to give the home team a 7-5 lead after three innings of play.
The Pioneers would chip into the Thunder lead after scoring a run in the fourth and scoring three runs in the sixth to take a 9-7 lead. Carroll would add an insurance run in the seventh inning and hold on for a 10-7 win.
Kang and Kemp finished the second fixture recording two hits apiece.
Iris Jones pitched for the majority of the contest, going 3-⅓ innings and striking out two batters.
With both results, Wheaton is now 12-12 overall and 1-3 in CCIW play. The Thunder will travel to Kenosha this Saturday to take on the Carthage Firebirds in a CCIW doubleheader.
