PICTURED ABOVE: Senior Andrew Laucella was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two walks.
Carol Stream, Ill. - The Wheaton baseball team returned to action on Friday with the first of three games for the Thunder this weekend at Lee Pfund Stadium. Wheaton (8-6) rallied on Friday to earn a 12-7 victory against Concordia-Moorhead (7-6). The Thunder will host Edgewood on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Wheaton's weekend will conclude at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday with a matchup against Carroll (Wis.).
Wheaton defeated Concordia-Moorhead tonight in a 12-7 victory as the Thunder scored 12 runs, on 12 hits, with three errors and the Cobbers scored seven runs, on 10 hits with no errors.
Starting pitcher Josh Arevalo worked 5-1/3 innings for the Thunder, allowing nine hits, with one strikeout. The senior allowed six runs, including five earned runs. John Schmitz (1-1) earned the win in 1-2/3 inning of scoreless relief as he held the Cobbers hitless, with one walk and three strikeouts. Nick Johnson (PICTURED LEFT) pitched one inning of scoreless relief, with no hits allowed, two strikeouts and no walks. Josiah Longenecker pitched the ninth inning for the Thunder. Longenecker allowed one unearned run, on one hit, with two strikeouts and no walks.
Designated hitter Andrew Laucella was 2-for-2 with two walks drawn. The senior hit a triple in the win with two runs scored and two RBI. Ben Brittain was 2-for-5, with two RBI and one run scored. Junior Jacob Zeller was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI. Freshman Clay Morrison was 1-for-1 with a key pinch-hit double to drive in two runs.
Starting pitching reigned through the first innings as the contest was tied 0-0 at the conclusion of the third inning. Wheaton reached the scoreboard with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Zeller (PICTURED RIGHT) led off the bottom of the fourth with a double to left centerfield and he advanced to third base on a well placed bunt single by Brittain. A sacrifice fly to right field by Kyle Mellinger brought Zeller home. Consecutive walks by Laucella and Brett Albaugh loaded the bases for the Thunder. Josh Kimmel executed Wheaton's second bunt single of the inning to drive Brittain home for a 2-0 Thunder lead. A sacrifice fly by shortstop John McKenna brought Laucella home and Wheaton's fourth run of the inning scored as a Albaugh crossed home plate on a single to right field by Kyle Trivits.
The Cobbers scored their first run in the top of the fifth inning to cut Wheaton's lead to 4-1. Wheaton responded in the bottom of the fifth inning with a run to extend its advantage to 5-1. Mellinger drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth and he scored on the next at bat as Laucella blasted a triple down the right field line.
The Cobbers responded with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead over the Thunder.
Wheaton countered in the bottom of the seventh inning with seven runs for the hosts to give the 'Orange and Blue' a 12-6 lead. Mellinger hit a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh to get things started for the Thunder and Laucella reached base on a walk. Both Mellinger and Laucella scored on a pinch hit double by Morrison to give the the hosts a 7-6 lead over the Cobbers. The Thunder loaded the bases and freshman Nick Mailman was hit by a pitch to drive in Wheaton's third run. Zeller followed with a RBI-single to increase Wheaton's advantage to 9-6. A two-run single through the right side of the infield by Brittain (PICTURED LEFT) and a RBI-single by Laucella accounted for Wheaton's final three runs and the 12-6 lead for the hosts.
The Cobbers scored one unearned run in the top of the ninth inning to account for the 12-7 final score.
