Elmhurst – Wheaton concluded its three-game series against Elmhurst University by dropping both games, 12-8 and 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at Elmhurst's Butterfield Park. With the losses, the Thunder fall to 5-7 in conference play and 12-16 overall, while Elmhurst improves to 3-5 in the conference and 9-18 overall.
After both starters worked scoreless first innings in game one, the Thunder struck first thanks to command issues from the Blue Jays' starter. Five walks and a hit by pitch led to three runs and an early 3-0 advantage. That lead was quickly erased in the bottom of the second, as Elmhurst responded with five runs on five singles, continuing its small-ball approach from the previous day. Four of the five hits came with two strikes, highlighting the Blue Jays' ability to battle at the plate.
Wheaton answered in the third, tying the game on an error with runners on second and third that brought in two runs.
Josh Ortiz followed with a scoreless bottom half, striking out three. The Thunder carried that momentum into the fourth, using a single and an error to set the table for
Will Clegg, who launched a three-run home run over the left-center field fence to give Wheaton an 8-5 lead.
Elmhurst responded again in the fifth, scoring four runs on three singles and taking advantage of three Wheaton errors. The Blue Jays added insurance in the sixth, capitalizing on three hit-by-pitches, a fielder's choice, and two infield singles to extend their lead.
Jack Lindsay finished the game on the mound for Wheaton, but the Thunder offense went quiet over the final three innings, resulting in a 12-8 loss.
Offensively, Wheaton recorded six hits and drew eight walks, but struck out 10 times and left 12 runners on base. Clegg went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, while
Tyler Burr finished 2-for-5 with a double and a RBI.
Alex Bagley started for Wheaton, allowing five earned runs on seven hits over two innings while striking out one. Ortiz followed with 2-1/3 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits and four walks while striking out four.
Jack Mazurowski surrendered three earned runs in one inning, and Lindsay closed with 2.2 scoreless innings.
Game two was a lower-scoring contest, with both starters delivering strong outings and allowing just two runs apiece over six innings. Elmhurst opened the scoring in the second inning with an RBI single on a full count but was held scoreless until the seventh.
Wheaton took the lead in the fifth when
Caleb Schauer drove in Sean Dmyotrowicz with a two-out line drive over the shortstop. After a quick 1-2-3 inning from Thunder starter
Carson Grier,
Mason Diel added another run, though the Thunder left the bases loaded, holding a narrow 2-1 lead.
In the seventh inning,
Billy Kessler entered mid-inning and recorded two quick outs, but a sacrifice fly tied the game at two runs for each team. Elmhurst took control in the eighth, loading the bases with a walk and a hit by pitch.
JD Van Hook nearly escaped the jam after striking out two-consecutive batters, but a single drove in two runs. A heads-up first-and-third play allowed another run to score on a steal of home, extending the lead to 5-2.
Wheaton threatened in the ninth, but a game-ending double play sealed the loss and completed the Elmhurst sweep.
The Thunder collected 10 hits in game two, drawing four walks and striking out six while leaving 10 runners on base. Clegg led the way at 3-for-5, Diel went 2-for-4 with an RBI,
Jack Gill finished 2-for-5, and Schauer added two hits and an RBI. Wheaton did not record an extra-base hit in the game.
Carson Grier turned in a strong start, allowing two earned runs on five hits over 6-1/3 innings while striking out five. Van Hook pitched one inning, striking out two and allowing one hit.
Wheaton returns to action Thursday for a non-conference matchup at Aurora University. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
