Lisle, Ill. (4/24) – The Thunder baseball team earned its second consecutive non-conference victory on Tuesday night with a 9-6 win at Benedictine University. Wheaton scored nine runs, on 12 hits, with three errors and Benedictine scored six runs, on six hits, with two Eagles errors. Wheaton will return to conference play on Friday at North Central in a 3 PM contest. The Thunder and the Cardinals will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader at Wheaton's Legion Field on Saturday at 1 PM.
Wheaton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when junior Matt Bradley hit a RBI-double to drive in Mark Price, who was hit by a pitch in the previous at bat. The Thunder broke things open with three runs in the top of the fourth inning as the guests opened the inning with three consecutive extra-base hits. Freshman Brian Kolb led off the fourth with a triple down the rightfield line and he scored on the next at bat when senior Josh Baker hit a double to right centerfield. Matt Price followed with a double to rightfield and the senior scored as the result of a Benedictine wild pitch.
Wheaton increased its lead to 7-0 with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Senior Nick Turner led off the fifth inning with a single and Luke Munch was hit by a pitch on the next at bat. Kolb bunted for a base hit to load the bases and Baker drew a walk to being Turner home. Consecutive sacrifice flies by Matt Price and Dan Falvey drove in Munch and Kolb, respectively. Benedictine broke the Thunder shutout with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Wheaton lead to 7-2. Wheaton increased its lead to 9-2 in the top of the eighth inning as Munch hit a two-RBI single to leftfield. The Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth and added two more in the bottom of the ninth, but Wheaton sophomore hurler Brandon Bradley thwarted the Eagles' rally by striking out the final two Benedictine batters.
Sophomore starting pitcher Ed McCaskey and freshman reliever John Little combined to throw the first four innings for the Thunder, and duo did not allow a hit. McCaskey struck out two and walked one in two innings of work. Little (3-4) earned the win in two innings of relief, with one strikeout and no runs allowed. Munch threw three innings of relief, allowing two runs, with one earned run, on three hits, with two strikeouts. Brandon Bradley pitched the final two innings, allowing four runs, with three earned runs, on three hits, with five strikeouts and three walks.
Matt Bradley went 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. Kolb was 2-for-5, with two runs scored a triple. Baker, Falvey and Matt Price each hit doubles, while Munch and Matt Price each drove in two runs. Wheaton saw eight offensive starters collect at least one hit in the well-rounded offensive effort.
