GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Phil Tuttle was 4-for-5 at the plate on the day.

Carol Stream, Ill. - The Wheaton baseball team lost a 6-5 decision to Benedictine University on Tuesday afternoon in the home opener of the 2013 season for the Thunder. Benedictine scored six runs, on eight hits, with one error and Wheaton plated five runs, on eight hits, with one error.  Wheaton (4-9) will host Benedictine (7-3) again on Wednesday at 4 PM at Lee Pfund Stadium.

Each team scored a run in its respective half of the first inning as senior Phil Tuttle hit a RBI-double to drive in Wheaton's first run. The Thunder took a 5-1 lead thanks to four runs in the bottom of the second inning. The inning was highlighted by a two-run triple by Desmond Cato and a RBI single by Kyle Mellinger. Benedictine rallied with five runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 6-5 lead. Walks proved costly for the Thunder, as Wheaton pitchers combined to walk 11 Benedictine batters in the game, including four in Benedictine's critical five-run fifth inning. Neither team musterd a run after the fifth inning to account for the 6-5 final score.

Tuttle was 4-for-5 at the plate on the day, with a double and one RBI to lead the Thunder offense. John Johnson was 2-for-4, with a run scored. Cato scored two runs and drove in two more, also stealing a base.

Thunder starting pitcher Casey Moll worked 4-1/3 innings, allowing four runs, on four hits, with five walks and two strikeouts. Scott Mancini (1-1) faced three batters, allowing two runs, on one hit, with two walks. Mancini took the loss. Miles Veth pitched 1-2/3 innings, with no runs allowed, on one hit, with three walks and one strikeout. Senior Jimmy McDonald closed out the game with three innings of solid relief, allowing no runs, with two hits, one strikeout and one walk