BOXSCORE

Fort Myers, Fla. – The Wheaton Thunder baseball team dropped a 4-2 decision to Thiel College on Tuesday afternoon at the Gene Cusic Classic. Thiel scored four runs, on eight hits, with one error and Wheaton plated two runs, on seven hits, with two errors. Wheaton will be off on Wednesday and return to action on Thursday for a doubleheader against Finlandia University at 10 AM (EST).

Thiel jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run on two hits in the top of the first inning. Freshman pitcher Evan Rahn held the Tomcats hitless for the next five innings. Wheaton tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a RBI-single by Austin Driggers. Wheaton took a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Miller. Thiel rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead on the 'Orange and Blue'. Once the Tomcats took the 4-2 edge on the Thunder. Thiel held Wheaton hitless over the final three innings.

Rahn (0-1) worked 6-1/3 innings in his first collegiate start. He allowed four runs, on four hits, with three walks and two strikeouts. Junior Matt MaLossi worked 2/3 of an inning, with scoreless relief, allowing two hits. Jimmy McDonald worked two innings for the Thunder, allowing two hits, with three strikeouts.

Driggers was 2-for-4 at the plate, with a RBI. Trey Martin was 2-for-4 on the day and freshman second baseman #Justin Swider hit a triple for the Thunder.

Thiel starting pitcher Josh Russell worked nine innings to earn the victory in a complete game. Russell allowed two runs, with one earned run, on seven hits. Russell struck out seven Thunder batters and walked two.