BOXSCORE

Lisle, Ill. – The Thunder baseball team opened its three-game series with North Park University on Friday at Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex. North Park edged Wheaton 3-2 in the game. The two teams will conclude their series on Saturday with a doubleheader at North Park on Saturday at 1 PM. The Vikings, ranked 25th in this week's D3baseball.com Top-25 are now 26-7 on the year, with an 11-4 record in conference play. Wheaton has a 13-21 record on the season, with a 5-11 overall record.

North Park scored three runs, on five hits, with no errors and Wheaton had two runs, on six hits, with one error. Thunder starting pitcher Trey Martin (4-4) had a strong outing in the loss with nine innings of work. The sophomore allowed three runs, one of which was earned, on five hits, with eight strikeouts. North Park starting pitcher Steve Kuligowski (6-2) earned the win in nine innings as he allowed two runs, on six hits, with eight strikeouts.

A solo home run in the top of the second inning gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead. North Park added two unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 3-0.

The Thunder rallied with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the guests' lead to 3-2. Martin led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double and he advanced to third base on a single by freshman Desmond Cato. Freshman infielder Justin Swider drove in Martin on a groundout that sent Cato to second base. Cato scored the second run of the inning on a single by pinch hitter Trevor Krause that went over second base through the middle of the infield to cut the Vikings' lead to one run. Wheaton began the bottom of the ninth inning with a single, but two impressive defensive plays by North Park second baseman Eric Sousanes in consecutive at bats eliminated the lead runner and helped North Park escape with the victory.