Carol Stream, Ill. (4/28) – The Thunder baseball team split a CCIW doubleheader with North Central on Saturday at Wheaton's Legion Field. The Thunder won the opener 2-1, behind a superb pitching effort from Luke Munch. North Central was an 11-10 victor in the nightcap. Wheaton is now 10-20-1 overall and 3-14 in league play, while North Central is 14-20 overall and 7-11 in CCIW action. The Thunder will conclude the regular season next weekend in a three-game series with Augustana.
Wheaton was a 2-1 victor in the opener as the Thunder scored two runs, on five hits, with two errors and North Central scored one run, on four hits, with an error. In the top of the fourth inning freshman Brian Kolb hit a leadoff double to left centerfield. Three batters later with Kolb at first base Munch hit a ball to the Cardinal first baseman who attempted to throw out Kolb at home. However, the freshman shortstop expertly slid around the catcher's tag and touched home to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. North Central scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Thunder junior Matt Bradley led off the sixth inning with a double to centerfield and scored on the next at bat, a single to leftfield by Kolb.
Munch (2-2) was outstanding on the mound in efficient complete game effort in seven innings. The southpaw held the Cardinals to just one hit through the first five innings of the game. The junior held North Central to one run, on four hits, with four strikeouts and no walks.
Kolb was 3-for-3, with a double, a run scored and a run driven in. Matt Bradley's double and a single by Nick Turner helped account for Wheaton's five hits in the victory.
North Central was an 11-10 winner the second game as the guests scored 11 runs, on 12 hits, with three errors and Wheaton recorded 10 runs, on 14 hits, with two errors. North Central scored two runs in the top of the first inning, however Wheaton took a 3-2 lead as the Thunder scored three runs in the bottom of the first. North Central scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take a 4-3 lead. Wheaton tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fourth inning as sophomore David Niehls belted a solo home run over the rightfield fence.
The Cardinals scored a run in the top of the sixth, however Wheaton added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-5 lead. Dan Falvey and Turner each hit RBI-singles and Falvey scored on a Cardinal throwing error. North Central scored three runs in the top of the seventh and three more in the top of the eighth and Wheaton scored a run in each of the final three innings as the slugfest ended at 11-10.
Thunder senior Matt Price was 3-for-5, with a double, a triple and three RBI. Fellow senior Josh Baker was 2-for-5, with a double and two runs scored. Turner went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Kolb was 2-for-5, with a double, a run scored and a run driven in.
Freshman starting pitcher Tim Urbanowicz tossed six innings, allowing seven runs, with six earned runs, on seven hits, with four walks and seven strikeouts. Sophomore Brandon Bradley (3-4) took the loss in three innings of relief with four runs, on five hits, with one walk.
