Naperville, Ill. – The Thunder baseball team concluded its three-game series against No. 16 North Central (11-7, 0-3 CCIW) on Monday afternoon. Nine runs for the Thunder in top of the third inning helped key the win as the 'Orange and Blue' bested the Cardinals 12-6. The Thunder improve to 11-8 overall and 3-0 in CCIW play.

The series to open the conference schedule had today's game moved from its original date of Friday to today; and today's contest had a 40-minute weather delay in the top of the third inning. The regularly scheduled doubleheader on Saturday saw the Thunder sweep the twinbill against NCC. Combined with today's victory, Wheaton's three victories in this series marks the first time the Thunder pick up a sweep of the three-game regular season series against North Central since 2012.

The two squads played scoreless baseball in the first two innings this afternoon at North Central's Zimmerman Stadium. However, the 40-minute weather delay in the top of the third was not enough to stop Wheaton's nationally ranked offense (13^th in D3 in slugging percentage). The Thunder plated nine runs in the third. The scoring in the third inning started with RBI-singles by seniors Ben Weaver and Matthias Haggerty. The Thunder led 3-0 with one out and the bases loaded when the contest was delayed due to lightning in the area. When play resumed the Thunder added a run on a NCC wild pitch and then on a Cardinal error in the first at bat following the resumption of the game. Jacob Snyder then came up to the plate and launched a three-run home run to extend Wheaton's lead to 8-0. Ben Weaver followed later in the inning with an RBI-single as the guests led 9-0 through three innings.

The Cardinals added three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and another run in the fifth to trim Wheaton's lead to 9-4 through five innings. The Thunder added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to extend the guests' lead to 12-4. Harrison Stanton and Weaver each hit RBI-singles and Haggerty drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the inning. The Cardinals added a run in the eighth and another run in the ninth to account for the 12-6 Thunder victory.

Thunder starting pitcher Jared Kloth worked four innings, allowing three runs, on three hits, with one strikeout and two walks. Nathan Hedlund (2-1) earned the win in four innings of relief. Hedlund allowed two runs, on six hits, with two strikeouts and no walks. Simeon Downing tossed one inning of relief as he allowed one run, on two hits, with one walk.

Larken Lancaster (PICTURED LEFT) was 3-for-4, with a double today. Lancaster scored three runs and drew a walk. Weaver was 6-for-3, with three RBI and a run scored. Catcher Luke Hamm was 2-for-3, scoring a run. Haggerty was 2-for-4, with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.

Wheaton remains in conference play for its next contest as the Thunder travel to Carthage on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. for a CCIW matchup at Carthage. Wednesday's game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but has been postponed to Wednesday due to tomorrow's weather forecast.