GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Andrew Bayer went 7.1 innings and Desmond Cato went 4-5 in Wheaton's 8-6 loss to Elmhurst.
Elmhurst, Ill.- In a game that was suspended over a week ago due to rain, the Elmhurst Bluejays rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come from behind to take a crucial CCIW battle by a score of 8-6. Wheaton was leading 5-1 when the game was resumed with two outs and two runners on base from the Bluejays in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the loss Wheaton falls to 10-13 overall and 6-8 in the CCIW. Elmhurst improves to 13-14 overall and 5-9 in the conference.
Prior to the suspension, Wheaton jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to an RBI single by
Justin Swider in the top of the first inning. Swider later stole home as part of a double steal for the second running of the inning.
Matt Schappell's RBI single in the top of the fourth inning accounted for the third run. After Elmhurst got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fourth, Wheaton responded with two more runs in the top of the fifth on a two run single by
Taylor Howe (PICTURED RIGHT) that made it 5-1.
Despite the delay, Wheaton starter
Andrew Bayer worked through the suspension and in total worked 7.1 innings and allowed four earned runs. After Bayer terminated the threat after play resumed, Wheaton used two Bluejay errors to plate a run and make it 6-1 in the top of the sixth inning.
Walks came back to hurt the Thunder in the bottom of the eighth inning as Elmhurst loaded the bases on just one hit before unloading them with a grand slam off the bat of Luke Collins that cut the Thunder lead to 6-5. Two more walks and a hit by pitch aided the Bluejays as they continued to rally and eventually took an 8-6 lead with a seven-run eighth inning.
In the top of the ninth,
Kyle Mellinger led off with a walk and Michael Kauffman was hit by a pitch to put the tying runs on board. Howe moved the runners into scoring position but the Thunder could not drive them in and Elmhurst escaped with the 8-6 victory.
Wheaton will be on the road again tomorrow when they travel to Lisle to face the Benedictine Eagles at 6 PM.
