GAME 1 BOXSCORE
GAME 2 BOXSCORE

Bloomington, Ill. – The Thunder baseball team split a doubleheader at Illinois Wesleyan (21-6)/13-2), ranked 17th in this week's D3baseball.com Top 25, on Saturday afternoon. Wheaton rallied in the top of the seventh to earn a 7-5 victory in the first game and the Titans won the second game 16-5.

Wheaton is now 17-11 overall and 6-8 in conference play. The team is one victory shy of tying the program's record for victories in a single season. The current record is 18, held by the 1999 and 1994 teams. Wheaton's next scheduled game is on Friday April 25, versus Elmhurst (3 PM) at Legion Field, followed by a doubleheader at Elmhurst (1 PM) on April 26. Wheaton was originally scheduled to play a doubleheader at Concordia (Wis.) on April 22, however, that game has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict for Concordia.

In Wheaton's 7-5 victory in today's opener, Wheaton scored seven runs, on 11 hits, with two errors and Illinois Wesleyan scored five runs, on six hits, with one error. Wheaton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first as Brian Kolb hit a RBI-single and catcher Nate Pugh drove in two runs with a single. The Titans plated a run in the bottom of the second to cut Wheaton's lead to 3-1. A Mark Price single in the third inning drove in Matt Bradley to increase Wheaton's lead to 4-1.

The Titans scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut Wheaton's lead to 4-3 and two more IWU runs in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Titans a 5-4 lead. Wheaton wouldn't quit, as the Thunder battled back in the seventh inning. Dan Falvey led off the top of the seventh with a single and he advanced to second base on a passed ball. Senior Luke Munch singled to drive in Falvey and tie the game at 5-5. A sacrifice bunt moved Munch to second base and the Titans intentionally walked shortstop Brian Kolb. Sophomore Josh Weaver took advantage with a double that brought Munch and Kolb home and gave the guest a 7-4 lead. Reliever Brandon Bradley (PICTURED RIGHT) closed the door on the Titans in the bottom of the seventh to give Wheaton the dramatic victory.

Weaver started the game on the mound for the Thunder, with 5-1/3 innings of work. He allowed five runs, on five hits, with six walks and five strikeouts. Bradley earned the win in 1-2/3 innings of scoreless relief as he allowed just one hit, with two walks and a strikeout. Third baseman Mark Price went 3-for-4 at the plate, with a run driven in. Matt Bradley (PICTURED LEFT) was 2-for-3, with two runs scored. Kolb had a 2-for-3 effort, with a walk, a run scored and a RBI. Weaver and Pugh each drove in two runs.

Illinois Wesleyan won the second game 16-5 in eight innings as the Titans scored 16 runs, on 19 hits, with two errors and the Thunder scored five runs, on 13 hits, with one error. The Titans broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 7-0 lead and never look back.

Kolb was 3-for-4, with a double to lead the Thunder bats. Weaver went 2-for-3, with a double, a stolen base and a run scored. Falvey went 2-for-4, with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Freshman Omar Vargas was 2-for-4, with a double and two runs driven in.

Starting pitcher Ed McCaskey (1-2) took the loss in 1-2/3 innings as he allowed seven runs, on seven hits. Sophomore John Little gave up seven runs in 4-2/3 innings of relief, on nine hits. Freshman Steve Dennison tossed one inning of relief, allowing two run, on three hits.