BOXSCORE

Lisle, Ill. – The Thunder baseball team opened the CCIW schedule on Friday with a contest against #15-ranked Augustana. The nationally-ranked Vikings earned the 15-5 victory in the conference opener. Augustana scored 15 runs, on 21 hits, with two errors and Wheaton plated five runs, on 12 hits, with four errors.

Wheaton is now 8-9 overall, with a 0-1 record in CCIW play. Augustana is 11-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Saturday with a 1 PM doubleheader at Augustana (Link to broadcast).

The Vikings scored a run in the top of the first inning, however, Wheaton countered with three runs in the bottom of the third. Justin Zeller belted a one-run double and Austin Driggers drove in a pair of runs to open things for the Thunder with a single in the first inning. The Vikings took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the second inning.

Augustana increased its lead to 7-3 with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Phillip Tuttle hit a RBI-single in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the Vikings lead to 7-4. Thunder shortstop Ryan Miller belted a leadoff home run in the top of the sixth inning to trim the guests' advantage to 7-5. Augustana reliever Josiah Martin stopped the Thunder rally with 3-1/3 innings of scoreless relief, holding Wheaton to just one hit.

Thunder starting pitcher Drew Golz (2-2) took the loss in 7-2/3 innings of work. Golz allowed nine runs, with four earned runs, on 15 hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Freshman Taylor Howe worked 1-1/3 innings of relief, as he allowed six runs, on six hits, with two walks and one strikeout.

Thunder freshman outfielder Desmond Cato was 4-for-5 on the day at the plate. Justin Zeller was 3-for-4, with two runs scored and a RBI on his first-inning double.