Blackburn Softball Falls to Wheaton

WHEATON, IL -- Blackburn College Softball visited Wheaton College but were unable to overcome later inning scores by the Thunder to fall 10-8 and 12-10 in nonconference action. 

Senior Kailynn Kruep led the way with five hits, which included a double and home run. She also scored four runs and had three runs batted in along with the team's only stolen base. 

Seniors Caroline Gibson and Zoe Mitchell, and freshman Alexis Weber had three hits. 

In the opener, junior Kenadee Frey scored the first run of the game when she scored on a single from Mitchell. Mitchell then got to second thanks to a wild pitch. Gibson advanced her to third with a single, and she scored on a wild pitch to put BC ahead 2-0. 

The Thunder answered with three runs in the bottom of the first but the Beavers tied it in the third thanks to Kruep's score off another wild pitch. The team took a 4-3 lead in the fourth due to a double by senior Sierra Hiser which scored sophomore Taryn Millburg. 

Wheaton answered in their fourth but BC bounced back with two runs in the fifth. Kruep started the inning with a double and scored on a ball hit by Frey. Mitchell came up next and  hit a single to score Frey. Unfortunately the hosts also scored two runs to keep the game tied. 

In the sixth, Weber scored on a single by Frey to give the Beavers a lead but Wheaton responded with four runs to go ahead 10-7. Blackburn came up in the seventh and Gibson walked before freshman Kendal Maddox came in to pinch run. After advancing to second, Milburg hit a single to score Maddox, but it wasn't enough as the team was unable to cross the plate again to fall 10-8. 

The nightcap saw BC score first again with Frey hitting a single to score Weber. Kruep scored later in the inning to make it 2-0. Wheaton scored three in the second but Blackburn responded with three in the third. Frey again knocked in Weber for the first run. Freshman Addison Ruyle knocked in Gibson and Mitchell to put BC ahead 5-3. However the Thunder tied it with two runs making it 5-5. 

The Beavers responded with four runs in the fourth inning. Weber doubled which scored Milburg before Kruep hit her second homer of the season to score Weber and senior Brianna Melchor and put Blackburn ahead 9-5. Unfortunately the Thunder answered again and scored four runs in the fifth to tie it again heading into the seventh inning. 

In the final inning, Ruyle doubled and scored freshman Kharma Giles to go ahead 10-9 but the hosts managed to score three runs in the bottom of the inning to take the 12-10 win 

The Beavers return to action Sunday when they visit Dubuque University.