Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WHEATON, Ill. – Sophomore Alyssa Klahn (Lincoln-Way Central HS, New Lenox, Ill.) had three hits and three RBI Saturday, as Augustana defeated Wheaton 9-8 in game one of a doubleheader at Ruth Leedy Field. The Thunder came back to win the nightcap 6-5. Coach Kris Kistler's club moved to 18-12 on the season and 5-5 in the CCIW, while the hosts  are now 7-25 overall and 3-11 in the league.
 
The Vikings are back at home on Sunday, April 22, hosting Webster in a 1:00 p.m. twin bill at Carver Field.
 
AUGUSTANA 9, WHEATON 8
 
Augustana put up nine runs in the fourth inning and then withstood a Wheaton rally, hanging on for the win in game one.
 
The Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Megan Neuhaus had a one-out single off junior starter Kelcie Fredrickson (Fisher HS, Foosland, Ill.) and Kelly Thornton followed with a home run to center.
 
Klahn's leadoff single against Wheaton starter Thornton sparked the Vikings' nine-run fourth. She also had the big blow, with a three-run double to left center on her second trip to the plate in the inning. Junior Haley Ruch's (Lincoln-Way North HS, Frankfort, Ill.) second RBI single of the frame capped the outburst.
 
Thornton had an RBI double as the Thunder scored twice in the fifth to cut its deficit to 9-4.
 
Wheaton added four in the sixth to pull within a run. Neuhaus drove in a run with a groundout and Thornton singled in another. Maddy Bonetto also had a run-scoring single and another run scored on an error before freshman reliever Hope Moos (Lincoln HS, Hartsburg, Ill.) got Beka Behrens to ground to Klahn at short to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Neuhaus doubled with two outs and Moos walked Thornton intentionally before coaxing a Morgan Ryan foul out to first baseman Brittany Pospishil (Lincoln-Way East HS, Mokena, Ill.) to end the game.
 
Fredrickson gave up three hits and two runs in four innings of work to pick up her sixth win in nine decisions this year. Moos went two innings to earn her first save. Thornton suffered the loss.
 
Klahn and junior Clare Kramer (Prophetstown HS, Lyndon, Ill.) each went 3-for-4 at the plate. Ruch, freshman Dina Falk (Lake Park HS, Bloomingdale, Ill.) and senior Lauren Severson (Morris HS, Morris, Ill.) each had a pair of hits.
 
WHEATON 6, AUGUSTANA 5
 
Behrens' two-run double in the top of the second put the Thunder on top against freshman Cecelia Peine (Holt HS, Wentzville, Mo.) in game two. They added a run in the third on Bonetto's RBI single to left.
 
Falk's leadoff walk started a two-run bottom of the third for Augustana. Seniors Shelby Grandt (Broomfield HS, Broomfield, Colo.) and Zayne Blumberg (Rock Canyon HS, Denver, Colo.) had consecutive bases-loaded singles, each of which drove in a run.
 
Wheaton extended its advantage to 6-2 with three runs in the sixth. Ryan knocked in two with a single and Abby Hancock scored on a Moos wild pitch.
 
Falk, freshman Molly Wrenn (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) and Ruch each drove in a run as the Vikings pulled to within 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth. Thunder starter Kendall Kehres escaped further damage in the inning and then left two Vikings stranded in the seventh to close out the win.
 
Peine (5-6) suffered the loss. Wrenn finished 3-for-4, while Ruch and Severson each went 2-for-3.