Elmhurst, Ill. – (4/20) – The Thunder baseball team opened its three-game weekend series with Elmhurst College on Friday afternoon with a 17-7 loss at Elmhurst's Butterfield Park. Elmhurst scored 17 runs, on 18 hits, with four errors and Wheaton plated seven runs, on 10 hits, committing two errors. Wheaton (7-16-1/2-10) and the Bluejays (10-13/6-6) will conclude the series on Saturday at 1 PM with a doubleheader at Wheaton's Legion Field.

Elmhurst scored a run in the bottom of the first inning and added another run in the second to take a 2-0 lead through two innings. Wheaton took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Wheaton's lead increased to 7-2 in the top of the fifth inning as the guests scored four runs. Elmhurst rallied with 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 13-7 lead. The Bluejays scored four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to account for the 17-7 final score.

Freshman Brian Kolb was 2-for-3, with a stolen base, two runs scored and two RBI. Senior Nick Turner went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Luke Munch was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Starting pitcher Matt Price pitched 4-1/3 innings, allowing seven runs, on eight hits, with four strikeouts and three walks. Reliever Dan Falvey (0-2) took the loss in 3-1/3 inning of relief. Falvey allowed 10 runs, with five earned runs, on 10 hits, with two strikeouts and two walks.