GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Tom Bishop threw four innings of scoreless relief in his collegiate debut during Wheaton's 7-6 loss to Monmouth on Monday.

Fort Myers, Fla.- Trailing 7-3 entering the ninth inning, the Wheaton baseball team stage a late rally that ultimately fell just short as the Thunder fell 7-6 to Monmouth College on Monday. Wheaton stranded the bases loaded twice in the game including the ninth inning and left 14 runners on base throughout the game. The loss drops Wheaton to 1-2 on the young season.

Wheaton's ninth inning started with a single by Kyle Mellinger and a walk to Justin Swider. After a pitching change, Trey Martin (PICTURED LEFT) roped a two-run double to the wall in left center to make the score 7-5. Two batters later Phil Tuttle lined an RBI single to right field to cut the lead to one. Two walks loaded the bases, but the Thunder couldn't come through with the big hit to finish the comeback. Wheaton was 0-5 with the bases loaded during the game.

The Fighting Scots jumped out to a quick lead by plating three runs in the top of the first off Wheaton starter Miles Veth. The Thunder put together a quick response in the home half of the first, started by a leadoff triple by Desmond Cato. Matt Schappell followed with an RBI groundout to cut the lead to 3-1.

Monmouth added one in the third, two in the foruth and three in the fifth to take a 7-1 before Wheaton started to chip away. In the bottom of the fifth, Schappell (PICTURED RIGHT) led off with a single that started a string of four straight singles and resulted in an RBI single for Justin Swider.

In the seventh, Schappell again with a walk and came around to score on a double by Swider to cut the lead to 7-3.

Wheaton will continue their trip with a doubleheader against MacMurray College on Tuesday at 10 AM EST.