GAME 1 BOXSCORE
GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Carol Stream, Ill. – The Thunder baseball team improved to 9-2 on the year by sweeping a doubleheader with Judson University on Thursday afternoon at Wheaton’s Legion Field. Wheaton won the opener 5-3 and the Thunder closed the twinbill with a 7-6 victory in the nightcap. Wheaton will resume its schedule on March 26 with a nine-inning game at Concordia University (Ill.).
Wheaton won the opener 5-3 as the Thunder scored five runs, on six hits, with two errors and Judson scored three runs, on eight hits, with one error. Starting pitcher Luke Munch (2-0) earned the win in four innings of work, on one run, with four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Sophomore Tim Urbanowicz earned his second save of the season in three innings of relief as he allowed two runs, on four hits, with two strikeouts and a walk.
Senior catcher Nate Pugh (PICTURED RIGHT) was 2-for-3, with two RBI and a double. Freshman outfielder Charlie Antal was 2-for-3, with three stolen bases. Omar Vargas was 1-for-3, with a double, a run scored and a run driven in. Senior Matt Bradley went 1-for-2, with two runs scored and two RBI.
Judson scored a run in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 1-0 lead, however, Wheaton plated four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead. Josh Weaver led off the fourth inning with a walk and scored on a RBI-double to rightfield by Vargas. A sacrifice bunt by Munch was misplayed by Judson to send the senior to first base and Bradley drove in Munch and Vargas on a RBI-single through the middle of the infield. Pugh belted a single to right centerfield to drive in Bradley and give the hosts a 4-1 lead. Judson cut the Thunder advantage to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Wheaton added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Bradley was hit by a pitch and scored when Pugh blasted a long double to centerfield to account for Wheaton’s 5-3 victory.
Wheaton won the nightcap 7-6 as the Thunder scored seven runs on six hits, with two errors and the Eagles plated six runs, on five hits, with three errors. Thunder starting pitcher Josh Weaver allowed four runs, in three innings, on three hits, with three walks and one strikeout. Steve Dennison (2-0) earned the win in two innings of scoreless and hitless relief. Dennison walked two and struck out one. Sophomore John Little earned his second save of the year in two innings of relief. Little allowed two runs, on two hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Sophomore Brian Kolb was 2-for-3, with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. Antal was 1-for-3, with a triple as he scored two runs and drove in two. Vargas drove in three runs and Neal Reasland was 1-for-3, with a run scored.
Judson took an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Wheaton scored a run in the bottom of the first inning as Munch hit a double to right centerfield and scored on a groundout Vargas. Judson increased its lead to 4-1 with a run in the top of the second inning.
Wheaton’s five-run effort in the second inning began with a one-out single by Reasland and then Pugh reached on a Judson error. Antal belted a triple to left centerfield that brought Reasland and Pugh home. Munch followed with a walk and then Kolb singled to drive in Antal. A two-run single to centerfield by Vargas drove in Kolb and Munch to give Wheaton a 6-4 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning Antal was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third base on Judson error when the Eagles made a pickoff attempt. A single by Kolb brought Antal home to increase the Thunder lead to 7-4. Judson scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning, but the Eagles could get no closer as Wheaton earned its 7-6 victory.