Softball Team Earns a Walk-off Run

After returning home from its spring break trip to Florida, the Thunder softball team has moved its record to 9-5 after double headers against Hope College, Lake Forest College and North Park University.
On Thursday, March 28, Wheaton dropped a pair of games to Hope by scores of 5-3 and 6-1, respectively. The score was knotted at 1-1 entering the sixth frame of the first game, but the Flying Dutch broke the game open with a four-spot in the top of the sixth. The Thunder rallied in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit in half on a two-run double by freshman third baseman Christina Sandstedt, but it was not enough to close the gap.

Senior starting pitcher Danielle Schmidt worked seven innings for the Thunder in the first game, Wheaton’s 2013 home opener. In taking the loss, Schmidt allowed nine hits and struck out four Hope batters. Freshman centerfielder Katie Yergler was 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Freshman starting pitcher Katie Thornton took the mound for the nightcap, losing a 6-1 decision despite fanning nine batters. Sandstedt was 3 for 3 on the game and drove in Wheaton’s lone run.

The Thunder bounced back on Saturday, March 30, against Lake Forest with a 7-6 win in the opening game of a twin bill, before falling 9-4 in the second game. After taking a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning, the Thunder allowed six Forester runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the score still deadlocked, junior rightfielder Jessica Goeke stood at second base, and Sandstedt was at first.

Junior catcher Stacey Cladis slapped a base hit into right field, and Goeke came around to score the winning run in walk-off fashion. Schmidt earned the victory, her fifth of the season, while striking out 10 batters in seven innings of work. Sandstedt was 4 for 4 in the contest, including her grand slam in the fifth inning.

Freshman starting pitcher Lyndsey Pritchard began the second game for the Thunder. Despite out-hitting Lake Forest 12-9, Wheaton took a 9-4 loss, as the Foresters scored in each of the last four innings. Yergler was 3 for 4 in the game, and senior first baseman Suzanne Teuben was 4 for 4 with a run and an RBI.

The Thunder opened CCIW play on Wednesday, April 3, with a doubleheader against North Park. They split a pair of one-run games, dropping the first contest 2-1 and bouncing back to take the second 3-2. In the opener, a walk-off single during the bottom of the seventh lifted the Vikings to victory. With one out, a 1-1 score and runners on first and third, Lindsay Synek’s base hit to right field scored the winning run for North Park. Schmidt took the loss, pitching 6 1/3 innings and fanning seven. The winning run was Schmidt’s only earned run allowed.

Thornton was the winner in the second game, pitching a complete game with two earned runs allowed and 10 strikeouts. She opened up the game with three runs in the first two innings, and that was enough for Schmidt, as the Thunder emerged 3-2 victors. No Thunder batter struck out in the game.

The Thunder will continue their season tonight at 4:30 p.m. with a contest at home against Concordia University Chicago. Tomorrow, Saturday, April 6, the Thunder will host the Wheaton Property Partners Invitational at Ruth Leedy Field. They will take on Robert Morris College (Ill.) at 10 a.m. before squaring off against Calvin College at 3 p.m.