BOXSCORE

Kenosha, Wis. – The Thunder baseball team closed out its CCIW-opening series against Carthage College on Friday with a nine-inning contest against the Red Men. Carthage defeated the Thunder 13-6 under cold conditions near the shores of Lake Michigan at Carthage Field. Carthage scored 13 runs, on nine hits, with no errors and Wheaton plated six runs, with 11 hits and three Thunder errors. Wheaton (7-11/0-3) will host North Central on Tuesday for a CCIW doubleheader at Alexian Field in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Wheaton took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as sophomore Charlie Antal led off the game with a single and scored three batters later on a RBI single by freshman Justin Zeller. Wheaton scored two more runs in the top of the second inning thanks to RBI-singles by Brian Kolb and Ryan Miller. Carthage took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the second inning as the hosts held a 5-3 lead.

Wheaton scored one run in the top of the third inning; however, the Red Men added two runs in the bottom of the third inning as the hosts held a 7-4 lead. Wheaton's third-inning run was made possible from a leadoff single by sophomore Steve Dennison, who scored as the result of a Mark Price single to left field. Carthage extended its lead to 8-4, as the Red Men scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Antal hit a solo home run down the left field line in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 8-5 in favor of Carthage.

Wheaton added another run in the top of the seventh inning as Kolb was hit by a pitch in the first at-bat of the inning and he scored three batters later on a single through the middle of the infield by Will Thompson. Carthage plated a run in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 9-6 Red Men advantage. Carthage extended its lead to 13-6 with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Antal was 3-for-5 at the plate, with his third home run of the season. The sophomore outfielder scored two runs and drove in one run on the day. Price was 2-for-4, with a run scored and a run driven in. Kolb went 2-for-4, with a run scored and a RBI, while Dennison was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Miller was 2-for-5, with a run driven in.

Junior starting pitcher Josh Weaver (1-3) saw two innings of action, allowing seven runs, with five earned runs, on three hits, with three walks. John Pohl tossed three innings of relief as he allowed one run, on two hits, with a strikeout and a walk. Zach Fallon pitched 2-2/3 innings of relief, allowing five runs, with only one earned run, on four hits, with five strikeouts. Freshman Matt MaLossi worked 1/3 of an inning of relief, and did not allow a hit or a run.