BOXSCORE
Schaumburg, Ill. – The Thunder baseball team earned a historic win on Wednesday as the Thunder rallied to defeat Illinois Wesleyan 10-5. Today’s game was a make-up of a contest that had been rained out last Saturday and was the third time this season Wheaton has earned a win against the traditional conference power. Wheaton scored 10 runs, on nine hits, with three errors and Illinois Wesleyan scored five runs, on 13 hits, committing no errors.
The victory proved historic, marking the first time Wheaton has ever swept a three-game series against the Titans. It also is the first time Illinois Wesleyan has been swept in a three-game CCIW series in 10 years.
Wheaton is now 20-15 overall and 12-6 in CCIW play, as the Thunder moves into a tie for second place in the CCIW standings with Illinois Wesleyan (21-11/12-6 CCIW). Wheaton has secured a spot in next weekend’s four-team CCIW Tournament at top-seeded Carthage College. The Thunder will conclude the regular season this weekend with a three game series at Millikin University.
Junior starting pitcher
Zach Fallon (2-2) earned the win for the Thunder in seven innings of work. Fallon allowed five runs, with two earned runs, on 11 hits, with one walk and a strikeout. Senior
Brandon Bradley pitched two strong innings of relief as he held the Titans scoreless, on two hits, with one walk and a strikeout.
Illinois Wesleyan led the Thunder 4-0 after six innings of play. The Titans added a run in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-0 lead. Wheaton rallied by scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the lead. Sophomore outfielder
Charlie Antal played a key role in the inning as his RBI-double in the third at-bat of the inning drove in the first run. The Thunder outfielder returned to the plate later in the inning and belted a long three-run home run to left field to extend the Thunder advantage from 7-5 to 10-5.
Antal was 2-for-4 in the game as both of his hits came in the critical seventh inning with the double and home run. He drove in four runs in the game, all in the seventh inning and also scored twice. Freshman
Justin Zeller was 2-for-3, with a walk, two RBI and a run scored. Junior
Mark Price was 2-for-4, with two runs scored.