Carol Stream, Ill. - The Wheaton Round Robin baseball tournament opened up on Friday with three games. The host Thunder entertained Saint Mary's University in Friday's final game as the Cardinals hung on for a drama filled 7-6 victory in the day's finale.

Saint Mary's scored seven runs, on 10 hits, with one error and Wheaton plated six runs, on 16 hits, with three errors. Thunder starting pitcher Alex Bagley pitched three innings, allowing five runs, on seven hits, with four strikeouts and one walk. Nathan Hedlund impressed in five innings of relief. Hedlund allowed two runs, with just one earned run, on three hits, striking out three with zero walks allowed. Sean Smith pitched one inning of scoreless relief, with no hits allowed and one walk.

Senior designated hitter Rutledge Feltel had a 3-for-5 effort for the hosts. Noah Yi, Daniel Hillyer, Chris Lynam, Payton McClowry, and Jack Gill each had a two-hit outing. Hillyer, Lynam, McClowry and Gill each hit a double for the Thunder.

The Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run. The guests added three more runs in the top of the third inning as SMU led 5-0 through three innings. 

Saint Mary's added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to increase the guests' lead to 7-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Thunder responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the SMU lead to 7-4. Hillyr led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a ground-rule double over the fence in left centerfield. James Scott followed him with a RBI-single that brought Hillyer home for Wheaton's first run of the game. Lynam followed with a single and McClowry belted a double that brought Scott home. Gill hit a sacrifice fly to leftfield to drive in Lynam and McClowry tallied Wheaton's fourth run of the inning when he scored on infield single by catcher Luke Hamm. 

Hillyer drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh inning and scored two batters later on a RBI-single by Feltel. Hillyer's run trimmed the SMU lead to 7-5 through seven innings. Hedlund closed out his five-inning relief appearance to strike out his final batter and stall a Cardinals' scoring threat in the bottom of the eighth as Wheaton maintained its 7-5 lead after eight innings. 

Feltel led off the bottom of the ninth inning for the Thunder with a single and Braden Engle replaced him as a pinch runner at first base. McClowry followed with a one out single. In the next at-bat, Gill hit a blast that hit off the cap on the top of the fencing in centerfield and bounced back in play. The umpires followed with a lengthy discussion and determined that Gill's hit was a single that loaded the bases with McClowry at second base and Engel at third base. A strikeout in the next at bat was the second out of the inning, however, a SMU wild pitch allowed Engel to score and sent McClowry to third base. Engel's run cut the Cardinals' lead to 7-6. The Cardinals forced a strikeout to end the game as the guests earned the 7-6 victory.

The Wheaton Round Robin tournament closes on Saturday with Wheaton playing in the day's final two games. The Thunder host Calvin at 2:00 p.m., with Marian University (Wis.) facing Wheaton in the tournament finale at 5:00 p.m.