GAME 1 BOXSCORE
GAME 2 BOXSCORE

Decatur, Ill. – The Thunder baseball team swept a CCIW doubleheader at Millikin University on Saturday afternoon. Wheaton won the opener 20-1 and the 'Orange and Blue' won a 17-7 decision in game two.

Wheaton is now 11-16 on the year and 3-8 in the CCIW, while Millikin falls to 4-21 overall and 0-11 in conference action. The two teams are scheduled to conclude their three game series on Monday at 2 PM with a single game in Decatur. Monday's game is a make-up of Friday's game that was rained out.

Thunder junior Justin Zeller hit a pair of home runs in the game to become Wheaton's all-time home run leader. Zeller now has 24 in his career in 'Orange and Blue' as he passes Wheaton alumnus Dave Phillips' (1991-94) 23 career home runs for sole posession of the school's career home run record.

Wheaton won the opener 20-1 as the Thunder scored 20 runs, on 17 hits, with one error and Millikin collected one run, on five hits, with three errors. Sophomore starting pitcher Trey Martin improved to 4-2 on the season as he worked all seven innings on the mound. Martin allowed one run, on five hits, struck out 10 Millikin batters and walked none in a strong outing.

Freshman Taylor Howe was 4-for-5, with two runs scored and two more driven in. Justin Zeller was 3-for-4, with a home run as he drove in three runs and scored three times. Martin helped his own cause, going 2-for-5 with five RBI as he hit a home run in the game. Justin Swider and Drew Golz also each collected a pair of hits.

Wheaton scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Austin Driggers drove in a pair of runs with a double to highlight the inning. The Thunder increased its lead to 10-0 with seven runs in the top of the second inning as a two-run triple by Desmond Cato was accompanied by a two-run single from Martin and a one-run single by Howe in the inning.

The guests added seven more runs in the top of the third inning to extend the advantage to 17-0. The third inning effort saw a three-run home run by Zeller, a two-run home run from Miller and a RBI-double off the bat of Howe. Martin increased the Wheaton edge to 20-0 when he hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning. Millikin scored its lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The game was halted after seven innings of play.

Wheaton won the second game 17-7 as the Thunder scored 17 runs, on 20 hits, with one error and the Big Blue scored seven runs, on seven hits, with two errors. Freshman Evan Rahn picked up the win in the second game as he worked 6-2/3 innings to improve his record to 2-3 on the year. Rahn allowed five runs, on five hits, with four strikeouts. Senior Luke Ross faced four batters in the seventh inning, as he allowed two runs, on two hits. Senior Steve Dennison pitched 2-2/3 innings of relief.

Driggers was 4-for-6 in the nightcap with a homerun and a double as he drove in five runs in the game. Miller was 3-for-5, with a pair of stolen bases. Miller also hit a home run and a double, with three runs scored. Drew Golz was 3-for-6, with four runs scored. Justin Zeller went 2-for-4, as he hit his second home run of the day to set the school record. He also drove in  with three runs and scored three times. Danny Pyne,  Swider and Martin each had a pair of hits in the game as well.

Wheaton jumped out to an 8-0 lead, thanks to eight runs in the first inning. The inning was highlighted by a three-run homer by Driggers and solo home run from both Pyne and Miller as well as a two-run double by Brian Whatnaby. Millikin plated a run in the bottom of the second inning and two more in the bottom of the third to trim Wheaton's lead to 8-3. The Thunder extended its lead to 12-3 with four runs in the top of the sixth inning as Driggers hit a two-run single and Swider drove in a run on a single.

The Big Blue scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the guests' advantage to 12-7, however, Martin hit a RBI-single in the top of the eighth for a 13-7 Thunder edge. The final score of 17-7 was the result of four runs in the top of the ninth inning. Zeller belted a three-run homer in the inning and Pyne drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.