Carol Stream, Ill. (4/21) – Wheaton (7-18-1/2-12) and Elmhurst (12-13/8-6) competed in a lengthy, offensive slugfest on Saturday in a doubleheader at Wheaton's Legion Field. In the opener, Elmhurst was a 14-10 victor in eight innings of a scheduled seven-inning game. Elmhurst was a 26-19 victor in the record-setting nightcap. Today's twinbill saw the two teams combine for 69 runs, with 84 hits in 6 hours and 50 minutes of baseball under clear skies at Legion Field.
The Thunder and the Bluejays combined for a CCIW-record 56 hits in the second game. The two teams broke the previous record of 55 hits in a game set by Elmhurst (30) and North Park (25) on April 24, 1993. The 56 hits put up by the two teams is the second-highest single-game total in the history of Division III, just one hit shy of the 57 hits collected by Pomona-Pitzer and Redlands in 1997. The record was set by Pomona-Pitzer and Redlands on April 27, 1997 in a 10-inning game. The astonishing effort put together by Wheaton and Elmhurst today is the most combined hits by two Division III teams in a nine-inning game. The combined 42 runs batted in by the two teams is the eight-highest combined RBI total in Division III history.
In the second game, Elmhurst scored 26 runs, on 29 hits, with four errors, while Wheaton plated 19 runs, on 27 hits, with three errors. Wheaton led the Bluejays 6-5 after two innings, however, Elmhurst scored eight runs in the third inning and added seven more in the fourth inning to take a 20-6 lead after four innings. Wheaton rallied with eight runs in the sixth inning to cut the guests' lead to 20-14. The eight-run sixth inning was highlighted by a two-RBI single from Mike Bravo and two-run double from Nick Turner. Elmhurst scored one run in the top of the seventh inning; however Wheaton scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Bluejays' lead to 21-18. In the seventh inning Wheaton collected RBI-singles by Matt Price and Bravo, along with a RBI on a fielder's choice by Nate Pugh. Elmhurst scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning and Wheaton added a run in the bottom of the ninth to account for the 26-19 final score.
Freshman Brian Kolb was 4-for-5, with a walk, a double, a stolen base, three RBI and three runs. Senior Nick Turner was 4-for-7, with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Josh Baker went 3-for-6, with two stolen bases, three runs scored and three RBI. Junior Luke Munch was 3-for-6 with two runs and a RBI. Junior Dan Falvey was 3-for-4, with three runs scored. Junior Matt Bradley went 3-for-4, with two runs and a RBI. Senior Matt Price went 3-for-6, with two RBI and a run scored.
In the Bluejays' 14-10 victory in the opener, the guests scored 14 runs, on 11 hits, with no errors and Wheaton scored 10 runs, on 17 hits, with three errors. Elmhurst jumped out to a 10-3; however Wheaton scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 10-10. The Wheaton rallied featured a two-run double by Munch and runs driven in by Jay White, Falvey, Kolb and Matt Price. Elmhurst scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning and shut Wheaton out in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.
Kolb was 4-for-5, with two runs and a RBI. Baker also went 4-for-5 with a run scored. Mark Price and Falvey each collected two hits as every batter in the Thunder lineup collected at least one hit.
For the doubleheader Kolb went 8-for-10, with five runs and four RBI. Baker had seven hits in 11 at-bats, with three runs and four RBI.
Wheaton has re-scheduled it long ago postponed game with Aurora. The Spartans and the Thunder will play on Monday March 23, at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, Illinois in a 5 PM first-pitch. Wheaton will play another non-conference game at Benedictine on Tuesday at 6 PM in Lisle.
