Carol Stream, Ill. – The Thunder baseball team (6-9) dropped their matchup against Concordia University Chicago (7-9) Tuesday night in an 18-8 defeat. The game concluded a 15-game stretch of non-conference action for the Thunder.
The high-scoring affair saw Wheaton collect eight runs on 11 hits while the visitors out-matched the Thunder with 18 runs on 14 hits. A frigid and windy night turned out to be a bullpen game for both sides. Wheaton and Concordia deployed ten pitchers apiece. Most notable for the Thunder was the return of
JD Van Hook who threw two innings of scoreless ball, striking out one batter. Now recovered from injury, it was the junior pitcher's first outing since May 7, 2022.
Nathan Hedlund and Brenden Dyer both pitched scoreless innings, as well.
Wheaton took an early lead just two pitches in as
Jacob Snyder hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Three batters later,
Kyle Wu doubled to drive in designated hitter
Mason Diel.
Tim Whitfield kept the momentum going as he hit his first career home run, scoring Diel.
A 25-minute rain delay in the middle of the second inning did not seem to slow down the Thunder, as
Matt Nelson walked as play resumed. Snyder stayed hot with a double to score him. He touched home a few batters later when
Mason Diel singled.
Some walks and timely hits by the Cougars saw them score eight runs in the top of the third, taking an 8-6 lead. It was a lead the Thunder were never able to take back.
Jacob Snyder contributed with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and reached on an error in the seventh that both scored a run. The visitors scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings for added insurance. Concordia finished strong with six runs in the last two innings, capping off their victory.
Diel led the Thunder in hits with three knocks and an RBI. Snyder finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Tim Whitfield added two RBI, going 2-for-4 and scoring twice as well. Outfielders
Joe Klein and Nelson also contributed spectacular plays in the field, the latter robbing a potential three-run home run in the ninth inning.
Wheaton opens up CCIW conference play on Friday with a 1:00 p.m. contest against North Park University in at Lee Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream.
