GAME 1 BOXSCORE
GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Carol Stream, Ill. - The Wheaton baseball team concluded its three-game series with North Park on Saturday by hosting the Vikings in a doubleheader at Legion Field. Wheaton was a 34-12 winner in the first game and the squad won a seven-inning affair, 15-4 in the second game. With 34 runs in the first game, Wheaton was just one run shy of tying a 54-year old school record for runs in game. The record for runs in a game was set in a 35-0 win against Elmhurst in 1954.
Wheaton is now 22-12 on the season with an 11-8 record in conference play. Wheaton has secured the fourth-seed in the upcoming four-team CCIW Baseball Tournament and will play at top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan on Thursday. Thursday's other first-round game will feature second-seeded Carthage against third-seeded Augustana. Times for the conference tournament games will be announced by the conference on Monday.
In today's twinbill-opening 34-12 victory, the Thunder scored 34 runs, on 32 runs, with four errors and North Park plated 12 runs, on 15 hits, with four errors. Wheaton jumped out to a 9-3 lead after one inning and held a 10-8 advantage after two innings. The hosts led 18-10 after four innings, but Wheaton scored eight in the fifth inning and added eight more in the sixth inning to help the team to the 34-12 victory. Freshman Zach Fallon (3-1) earned the victory in 2-1/3 innings of relief as he allowed two runs, with just one earned run, on three hits, with three strikeouts.
Shortstop Brian Kolb was 6-for-7, with two doubles and two stolen bases as he scored four times and drove in six runs. Freshman Charlie Antal (PICTURED RIGHT) was 4-for-5, with a walk, four runs scored and seven RBI. In the third inning Antal belted his second grand slam of the season; he also hit a triple and stole a base in the game. Senior Matt Bradley was 4-for-6, with a triple as he scored three times and drove in two more. Senior catcher Nate Pugh was 3-for-4, with a walk and a double as he drove in five runs and scored three times. Fellow seniors Neal Reasland and Dan Falvey each went 2-for-4. Reasland scored three times with two RBI and Falvey scored twice with two RBI. Mark Price was 2-for-2, with a double.
Wheaton was a 15-4 winner in the second game as the Thunder scored 15 runs, on 16 hits, with two errors and North Park scored four runs, on eight hits, with three errors. After scoring one run in the first inning Wheaton recorded four more in the second inning to take a 5-1 lead. North Park scored a run in the top of the third inning and added another in the top of the fifth to cut the Wheaton lead to 5-3. Wheaton countered with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase its lead to 11-4. The Vikings scored one run in the top of the sixth inning and Wheaton countered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to account for the 15-4 win.
Sophomore starting pitcher Tim Urbanowicz (4-2) earned the win in five innings of work. Urbanowicz (PICTURED LEFT) allowed four runs, on seven hits, with six strikeouts. Freshman Steve Dennison pitched two strong innings of scoreless relief as he allowed just one hit, with four strikeouts.
Bradley was 3-for-5, with two runs scored and a run driven in. Pugh was 2-for-4, with three runs scored. Falvey was 2-for-3, with three RBI and two runs scored. Omar Vargas hit 2-for-3, with three RBI and two runs scored. Kolb as 2-for-4, with a home run as he scored twice.
