Montgomery, Ala. - The Wheaton baseball team dropped its final game of the season-opening weekend to the host of the Firehouse Classic, Huntingdon College. The Thunder (0-3) let a close game slip away from them as the Hawks (4-3) scored seven runs in the final three frames to win 8-1.

On a tough day for the Thunder bats, the offense mustered one run on one hit with two errors in the field. The hosts put up eight runs with eight hits on three errors. Freshman Nate Burden had a stellar outing in his first collegiate start. The Wheaton Academy product pitched 5-⅓ innings, striking out six, and allowing three earned runs and three hits. Jack Lindsay pitched ⅔ innings, allowing one run with a strikeout. Josh Ortiz took the seventh inning and allowed one run on two hits. Sean Smith allowed three runs, two earned, in ⅔ innings and Micah Johnson recorded one out for the Thunder.

Huntingdon pitcher Jacob McFarling dominated this afternoon, completing eight innings of work while only allowing one hit and one unearned run. He gave up four free bases, two walks, and two hit batsmen. Braden Engel collected the lone hit for Wheaton, as well as a walk and hit-by-pitch. Noah Yi drew a walk while Will Clegg and Tim Whitfield also got hit by a pitch. 

The starting pitchers were in control for both teams as each stayed out of trouble for the game's first four innings. Engel led off the fifth inning with a base hit to center field. A sacrifice bunt by Luke Hamm put the freshman center fielder in scoring position. However, McFarling was able to get out of the inning unharmed.

The Hawks were able to record the first run of the game in the latter half of the fifth inning. A fielder's choice with the bases loaded gave the home team a 1-0 lead. In the sixth inning, a walk and hit-by-pitch from Burden left runners on base for Jack Lindsay. Despite striking out the first batter he faced, Huntingdon managed a couple of hits to break the scoring open. The hosts led 4-0 after the sixth inning. 

James Scott was responsible for Wheaton's one run in the top of the eighth inning. Scott lined a ball off the third baseman's glove, scoring pinch runner Scott Sanders. Huntingdon scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to solidify its 8-1 victory. 

Wheaton will stay on the road as it travels to Greenville University next weekend for a three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday.