Fort Pierce, Fla. – The Wheaton baseball team resumed its Spring Break trip to Florida on Friday with a doubleheader against Westfield State. The Thunder won the second game of today's twinbill 8-3 to hand the Owls just their second loss of the season. The Owls won today's first game 9-0. Wheaton's Spring Break trip concludes on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. against Penn State-Behrend.

Wheaton won the second game 8-3 as the Thunder scored eight runs, on 11 hits, with two errors. Westfield State scored three runs, on six hits, with one error.

Freshman pitcher Nate Burden (2-2) again impressed in earning the win. Burden (PICTURED LEFT) worked six innings, allowing three runs, including two earned runs, on six hits, with seven strikeouts and two walks. Jack Lindsay held the Owls hitless in an inning of scoreless relief.

Senior Rutledge Feltel led the Thunder offense in a 4-for-4 outing, with a double as he drove in five runs. Senior shortstop Noah Yi was 2-for-3, with two walks. Yi stole two bases and scored twice. Ryan Cartwright hit a double, while Daniel Hillyer, James Scott, Payton McClowry, and Braden Engel each collected a single. McClowry, Chang and Engle each joined Yi with two stolen bases apiece in the game.

Feltel gave Wheaton an early lead with a two-run single to right field in the top of the first inning to drive in Daniel Hillyer and Yi. Wheaton scored four more runs in the top of the second inning to extend their lead to 6-0. Engle started the scoring with a RBI-single and Scott drove in run with a RBI-single. Feltel continued his hot-hitting with a two-run double to left centerfield.  

In the top of the fourth inning, Feltel hit a RBI-single to drive in Scott who reached base in the previous inning on a single to rightfield. Scott's run increased Wheaton's lead to 7-0. The Owls scored their three runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning to trim Wheaton's lead to 7-3. Hillyer hit a RBI-single to rightfield in the top of the seventh inning to add an insurance run and account for the 8-3 final score. Lindsay pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning to end the game.

In the opening game today, the Owls defeated Wheaton 9-0. Westfield State scored nine runs, on 11 hits, with two errors and Wheaton had zero runs, on four hits, with one error.

Thunder starting pitcher Alex Bagley worked 2-1/3 innings as he allowed seven runs, including six earned runs. Bagley allowed seven hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Sean Smith pitched 2-2/3 innings in relief of Bagley, allowing two runs, on three hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Senior JD Van Hook pitched an inning of scoreless relief as he struck out two batters and did not allow a hit. Nathan Hedlund worked one inning, allowing one hit and no runs allowed.

Luke Hamm hit a double for the Thunder in the opener. Hillyer, Feltel and Jack Gill each collected singles for Wheaton.