Decatur, Ill. (4/13) – The Thunder baseball team lost a pair of games in a CCIW doubleheader at Millikin University on Friday. The Big Blue rallied to win the first game 5-4 and the hosts won the nightcap 9-3
The schedule for Friday originally called for a single nine-inning game between the two teams at 3 PM. However, weather and field conditions in the Decatur area delayed the start time to get the field ready. Today's meeting was also turned into a doubleheader due to the forecast of snow overnight in Decatur. The Thunder (6-13-1/1-8 CCIW) and Big Blue (9-16/4-6 CCIW) are now scheduled to close out the series on Saturday at noon in a single nine-inning game.
A late Millikin rally gave the hosts a 5-4 victory in Friday's first game as the Big Blue scored five runs, on six hits, with three errors and Wheaton scored four runs, on six hits, with one error. Wheaton scored two runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Junior Dan Falvey hit a leadoff home run and Nick Turner hit a RBI-single to drive in Luke Munch who drew a walk to reach base. The Thunder lead increased to 3-0 in the top of the third inning as senior Josh Baker belted a two-out solo home run. A RBI-single by Munch in the top of the fourth inning gave Wheaton a 4-0 lead. Millikin scored five unanswered runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead and held on in the top of the seventh inning to secure the victory.
The home runs by Falvey and Baker were accompanied by singles from Munch, Turner, Jay White and Mike Bravo to account for Wheaton's six hits. Thunder starting pitcher Matt Price (1-4) took the loss in 5-2/3 innings of work on the mound. Price allowed five runs, with four earned runs, scattering five hits, with four walks and two strikeouts. Sophomore Brandon Bradley tossed 1/3 of an inning of relief, with no runs and allowing one hit.
Millikin won the second game of the twinbill 9-3. The Big Blue gained an early lead with five runs in the bottom of the third inning and added four more in the bottom of the fifth to take a 9-0 lead. In the top of the eighth Wheaton catcher Nate Pugh hit a leadoff single and was followed by a single from Falvey. The back-to-back hits setup a three-run home run by Munch to cut the Millikin lead to 9-3, however, the Big Blue held on for the victory.
Millikin scored nine runs, on five hits, with one error and Wheaton plated three runs on eight hits, with four errors. Freshman starting pitcher Tim Urbanowicz (0-2) took the loss in five innings of work. The rookie allowed nine runs, with five earned runs, on three hits, with eight walks and nine strikeouts. Sophomore Ed McCaskey tossed three innings of relief, scattering two hits, with one walk and a strikeout.
Munch was 2-for-3, with his second home run of the season, a walk, three RBI and a run scored. Turner went 2-for-4, with a double
