PICTURED ABOVE: Josh Arevalo did not allow an earned run in his complete game victory in the nightcap.

Carol Stream, Ill. - The Wheaton Thunder baseball team swept North Park (14-23, 5-13 CCIW) on Monday in a key CCIW doubleheader. The Thunder won today's first game 4-2. Wheaton executed the sweep with an 11-1 victory against the Vikings in eight innings in the second game as the Thunder scored nine runs over the final four innings. Today's twinbill was originally scheduled for Saturday, however, was postponed to today because of continuous soaking rains throughout the day on Saturday.

Wheaton is now 22-15 overall and 9-9 in CCIW play. The Thunder will conclude the regular season this weekend with a three-game series against Illinois Wesleyan that begins on Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Lee Pfund Stadium.

Wheaton scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning of today's opener to earn a 4-2 victory. The Thunder scored six runs, on five hits, with six errors and North Park tallied two runs, on eight hits, with two errors. Thunder starting pitcher Christian Bolhuis worked 7-1/3 innings as she allowed two runs, including one earned run, on seven hits with one strikeout and zero walks. Reliever Nick Johnson (6-2) worked the final 1-2/3 innings for the hosts to pick up the win. Johnson held the Vikings scoreless, allowing one hit and one walk.

Designated hitter Andrew Laucella was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a RBI. Nick Mailman had a 1-for-2 effort with a walk, three stolen bases and two runs scored. Jon Metz and Ben Brittain each collected a hit and a RBI.

NPU starter Brent Kessinger (3-3) worked seven innings, allowing four runs, including two earned runs, on five hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. Mario Creecy pitched an inning of scoreless relief, allowing zero hits with one strikeout. Ray Cekus was 3-for-4 with a run scored for the guests. 

Wheaton gained a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Mailman (PICTURED RIGHT) was hit by a pitch to open the bottom half of the inning and stole second base. He crossed the plate on a ground out by Laucella to give Wheaton the early lead. In the bottom of the third inning Mailman drew a one-out walk and scored from second base on a RBI-single by Laucella to increase Wheaton's lead to 2-0.

The Vikings trimmed Wheaton's lead to 2-1 with a NPU run in the top of the fourth inning. North Park scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning as Wheaton committed a fielding error and followed that with an error on an attempted throwout in an attempted throwout to allow the guests to score the game-tying run. 

Wheaton tallied two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the 4-2 lead. Jacob Zeller hit a leadoff single to centerfield and Laucella followed with a walk. Brett Albaugh pinch ran for Laucella. Ben Brittain was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Zeller to cross the plate. Metz hit a long sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Albaugh to score an insurance run and give Wheaton the 4-2 lead that would become the final score.

The Thunder won the nightcap behind a strong outing from senior pitcher Josh Arevalo. Wheaton scored 11 runs, on 14 hits with two errors and North Park tallied one run, on seven hits with three errors. Arevalo (4-3) earned the win in eight innings. The senior allowed one unearned run, on seven hits, with five strikeouts and two walks.

Jacob Zeller (PICTURED LEFT) was 3-for-5, with three stolen bases and he scored two runs. Jon Metz was 3-for-5, with three RBI and he scored twice. Brittain was 2-for-4 with a triple, a run scored and a RBI. 

North Park scored one run with two outs in the top of the second inning when a Wheaton fielding error on an infield hit allowed a run to score on what would have been the third out of the inning. The NPU unearned gave the guests a 1-0 lead. Brittain led off the bottom of the second inning with a triple to left field and he scored on a ground out by Metz to tie the game at 1-1.

Wheaton scored a go-ahead run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead over the Vikings. Laucella led the third inning with a with a single through the left side of the infield and then stole second base. He scored on a ground out by Clay Morrison to give the Thunder the 2-1 advantage.

Wheaton added three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to gain a 5-1 lead. Kyle Mellinger drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Metz (PITCURED RIGHT) added a RBI-single and Clay Morrison scored a run on a NPU error. The Thunder lead increased to 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Zeller and Laucella committed a double-steal and a NPU error on the play allowed Zeller to score Wheaton's sixth run of the game.

Wheaton's lead increased to 8-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Mailman drove in a pair of runs on a single to right centerfield. The Thunder scored three runs in the bottom of the eight inning to end the game on the 10-run rule. A pair of runs scored following a double by Metz who advanced to third base on a NPU error and he scored Wheaton's 11th run on on a NPU wild pitch.