Wheaton, IL – The Thunder baseball team returned to Lee Pfund Stadium on Tuesday evening for a non-conference matchup against the University of Dubuque Spartans, winning 10-9 in an offensive showcase highlighted by four multi-hit performances. With tonight's victory, Wheaton improves to 8-10 while Dubuque falls to 5-10.

The Thunder wasted no time in taking an early lead, striking first just two pitches into the game. Tyler Burr led off with a double and came around to score on an RBI single up the middle from James Scott. Charlie Scofield followed with an RBI of his own, plating Scott. A walk and a single loaded the bases for Nathan Hedlund, who cleared them with an opposite-field double.

The scoring then quieted until Dubuque answered with a run in the second inning. The hosts promptly extended their lead to 7-1 when Scott and Jack Gill each came around to score on a balk and a wild pitch.

In the fifth inning, Spartans shortstop Zavion Ingram delivered one of the game's most memorable moments. On a dropped third strike and wild pitch, Ingram advanced from second to third and, without hesitation, turned for home — sliding in safely on a heads-up hustle play to make it 7-2.

Wheaton added two more runs in the fifth on a leadoff walk to Burr and a hit-by-pitch to Scott, pushing its lead to 9-2. The latter's HBP was his 20th of the year so far, a mark that has already broken Wheaton's single-season record and is currently the second-most in Division III in 2026.

The Spartans clawed back in the seventh, erupting for five runs to knot the game at nine. A bases-loaded walk, a sacrifice fly, a groundout, and a bases-clearing triple provided Dubuque with a surge of momentum heading into the final frames.

Wheaton answered in the bottom half when the freshman Scofield delivered a clutch two-out RBI hit to plate Gill, putting the Thunder back on top for good. Setup man Billy Kessler then shut the Spartans down in the eighth, striking out two and snuffing out any remaining momentum.

Senior closer JD Van Hook finished the job, striking out two in the ninth for his fourth save of the season.

The Thunder out-hit the Spartans by one this evening, while the visitors committed one less error. Wheaton registered three extra-base hits while limiting Dubuque to just one. As a team, the Thunder drew nine walks and tallied four HBPs, stole three bases, and only struck out four times, batting .342 on the night.

Offensively, Hedlund was a standout contributor in Wheaton's midweek win, going 1-for-2 with a double, three RBI, and two walks. Scofield went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a walk, while Sean Dmytrowicz, Scott, and Gill each recorded multiple hits.

On the mound, Carson Grier got his first collegiate start and worked four strong innings, striking out six, walking two, and allowing just one run. Jack Lindsay followed with one inning of relief, giving up one run and striking out two. Kessler pitched 1⅔ innings, surrendering just one hit and striking out two to claim the win, before Van Hook closed it out with a pair of strikeouts to earn the save.

Wheaton's five-game home stand will conclude with a conference test against Augustana College this Friday at 5:00 PM.