Carol Stream, Ill. -- The Thunder baseball team ended their six-game home stand with a non-conference tilt against the Concordia University Chicago Cougars on Tuesday evening. The matchup got off to a slow start offensively, but four runs in the bottom of the third inning gave Wheaton a lead it would not relinquish as the hosts went on to top their visitors by a score of 7-1. Tonight's win moves the team's record back up to .500 on the season at 8-8 and sets the Thunder up nicely for their conference-opening series at the weekend.
After beginning the contest with a three-up, three-down defensive series, Wheaton put two runners on base following a walk and a
Ben Weaver single through the right side. But the Cougars managed to earn the inning's third out before the home side could turn their bases into runs. Neither team registered a hit in the second inning to set up a low-scoring affair, but the third frame was a different story as both squads changed their pitchers and notched their first scores of the day. Three singles and an advancing runner gave CUC its opening tally, but the Cougars left a pair of runners stranded and only managed to score one time before the bottom half. The Thunder took full advantage of their opponents' pitching switch, getting the first four batsmen on base in the bottom of the frame. A double by
Harrison Stanton was followed by a two-RBI triple from
Kyle Wu to put Wheaton in front. Wu was then brought home on the very next pitch thanks to an RBI single from Weaver. A double play on the next at-bat threatened to stem the Thunder tide, but
Joe Klein had other ideas, firing off his eighth home run of the season to cap the four-run stretch for the hosts who suddenly found themselves in a nice position.
Back-to-back walks helped Concordia Chicago load the bases with two outs in top of the fourth inning as the Cougars sought an immediate response, but a fly-out to center field meant that the visitors could not add to their one-run total. Both sides failed to reach first base in their following series at the plate, but the Thunder notched three more scores in the bottom of the fifth frame to get one hand on the win.
Kyle Wu started the flurry with a ground-rule double, before
Matthias Haggerty tripled and crossed home plate himself soon after via a sacrifice fly.
Mason Diel then accounted for the final score of the game by blasting a home run over the left field wall to extend Wheaton's lead to six runs. The two teams combined for just two more hits in the remaining 3.5 innings, and the Thunder put the defensive clamp on to see out their win without much fuss.
Wheaton registered twice as many hits as their guests on Tuesday and committed one less error. Concordia Chicago left 11 runners on base and will feel disappointed in failing to make the contest more competitive on the scoreboard. Eight different pitchers saw time on the mound for the Thunder this evening, as the coaches preferred a rotational method to keep their throwers sharp ahead of the upcoming conference schedule.
Josiah Livingston earned his second win in as many games, while
Nate Barker,
Caleb Downing,
Micah Johnson, and
Sean Smith all tallied strikeouts and gave up just one hit between the four of them.
Mason Diel led the team with three hits including his fifth-inning homer.
Kyle Wu posted two hits, runs, and RBI in a valuable offensive showing.
Ben Weaver also tallied a pair of hits and one RBI.
Joe Klein drew in two RBI and a home run, while
Matthias Haggerty registered one in each category.
Harrison Stanton picked up one hit and score.
All focus now turns to CCIW play, as Wheaton will head to Naperville on Friday afternoon for a date with local opponents North Central. The Thunder then return to Lee Pfund Stadium on Saturday for a doubleheader against the Cardinals.
