Wheaton 10, Eastern Nazarene 5 - Boxscore
Wheaton 12, Monmouth 3 - Boxscore

Fort Myers, Fla. – The Wheaton baseball team opened up its 2011 season on Saturday with a pair of games at the Gene Cusic Classic. The Thunder began the season with a 10-5 victory against Eastern Nazarene University and Wheaton topped Monmouth (Ill.) 12-3 in the nightcap of the evening. Wheaton (2-0) will return to action on Monday at 9 AM (EST) with a doubleheader against Elms College at the Cusic Classic. 

The Thunder won its opener, 10-5 against Eastern Nazarene as Wheaton scored 10 runs, on 12 hits, with two errors and the Eagle scored five runs, on nine hits and two errors. Thunder starting pitcher Steve Dennison tossed 4-1/3 innings, allowing four runs, on seven hits, with five walks and three strikeouts. Sophomore Jimmy McDonald picked up the win in 1-2/3 innings of relief as he held the Eagles scorless, with no hits allowed, one strikeout and two walks. Phillip Tuttle pitched two innings of relief, allowing one run, on two hits, with two strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Evan Rahn pitched one inning, with a strikeout and no hits allowed. 

Sophomore third baseman Trey Martin was 3-for-4 at the plate with two long home runs and a triple as he drove in three runs. Shortstop Ryan Miller was 3-for-5, with two runs scored and  RBI. Miller hit a triple and stole two bases. 

Wheaton 's second game of the night was a 12-3 victory against Monmouth College (Ill.), as Wheaton scored 12 runs, on 14 hits, with one error and Monmouth scored three runs, on five hits, with four errors. Wheaton starting pitcher Drew Golz (1-0) earned the win in five innings of work. Golz (PICTURED RIGHT) held the Scots hitless, with seven strikeouts and four walks allowed. Matt MaLossi allowed one run in two innings of work as he struck out three and allowed three hits. John Pohl allowed two runs in 1-1/3 innings of relief. Jonathan Burdett pitched the final 2/3 of an inning, holding the Scots scoreless, with no hits allowed. 

Wheaton centerfielder Justin Zeller was 3-for-4 on the night, with a walk, a run scored and a triple. Miller was 3-for-5, including a double. Martin continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4 effort that drove in two runs, with a run scored. Martin hit his third home run of the night and added his second triple of the season.   Freshman infielder Scott Mancini was 2-for-3, with a walk drawn, two runs scored and a RBI. Catcher Austin Driggers was 2-for-5, with a run scored and a run driven in.