ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst softball team rallied late in game two to split a twin bill with Wheaton.

The Thunder (19-5, 5-1 CCIW) used a five-run ninth inning to take game one before the Bluejays (11-9, 1-1 CCIW) bounced back by scoring seven runs in the seventh inning of game two. In the first five innings of both games, the two teams did not score and mustered only 11 hits.

Game One: Wheaton 7, Elmhurst 2
After both teams scored their first two runs of the game in the seventh inning, Wheaton rallied for five in the ninth as the Thunder took game one.

Both starting pitchers, Elmhurst's Stephanie Sturino and Wheaton's Katie Thornton were dominant through their first six innings. Sturino stranded runners on third in the first, third, fourth, and sixth innings, while Thornton only allowed a runner to reach third once in her first six innings.

Wheaton broke through in the seventh, taking a 2-0 lead on RBI hits by Kelly Thornton and Christina Sandstedt.

Down to their final out, the Bluejays answered the call with a two-out rally. With two on and nobody out, Bri Getzloff singled to left and Brianna Thompson walked. Morganne Evans then reached on an error by the shortstop, which loaded the bases. Lauren Rismondo provided the key hit, scoring Getzloff and a pinch-runner Nicky Giamblavo to tie the game.

After a scoreless eighth, Wheaton tallied six hits in a five-run ninth that put the game out of reach.

Sanddtedt and Katie Yergler both notched three hits for Wheaton. Katie Thornton earned her 14^th win of the year by tossing all nine innings and allowing two unearned runs on seven hits, while striking out seven.

Mikayla Melone and Getzloff both finished with two hits. Sturino finished 8.2 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 15 hits. Stefanie Sanidas finished off the final out for the Bluejays in the ninth.

Game Two: Elmhurst 8, Wheaton 1
In a similar storyline to game one, pitching ruled early, but this time the Bluejays registered four consecutive two-out, extra-base hits in the seventh inning to rally for a split with an 8-1 victory. 

This pitchers' duel began with five scoreless innings as Elmhurst's Sanidas and Wheaton's Kendall Kehres duked it out.

Elmhurst broke through in the sixth. Evans doubled to right-center and then advanced to third on an illegal pitch. After Rismondo grounded out, Evans stole home with Getzloff at the plate.

The Bluejays scored seven in the seventh to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Ondracek singled to lead off the innings, which spelled the end for Kehres who finished six innings and allowed seven runs on ten hits. Faith Thompson reached on a bunt single and Crystal Marinelli sacrificed both runners into scoring position. After B. Thompson grounded out to the catcher, Villagomez walked to load the bases, setting up three consecutive doubles from Evans (two-RBI), Rismondo (two-RBI), and Getzloff (RBI). Melone finished off the seven-run inning with a two-run home run to center field.

Sandstedt homered in the bottom half of the inning, but it was too little too late as Sanidas finished off a complete-game four-hitter, allowing just the one run.

Elmhurst continues CCIW play with a doubleheader against North Park University at home, tomorrow, Tuesday, April 12 beginning at 3:00 p.m.