Kenosha, Wis. – Wheaton concluded their three-game series against the Carthage Firebirds with a doubleheader in Kenosha. The game was moved to the home of the Kenosha Kingfish, a local Northwoods League team. The two teams split the day. A 9-10 loss in game one and 11-5 in game two gave the Thunder the series victory. With the split, Wheaton moves to 14-17 on the season and 5-7 in conference. Carthage moves to 12-19 overall and 5-10 in conference play.
 
The scoring in game one began in the third inning thanks to a sacrifice fly, set up by a double with a runner on first base. The Thunder would respond in kind, scoring one run of their own. Will Clegg jumped on an 0-0 pitch sending it into the gap for a double. Five-hole freshman Charlie Scofield singled up the middle to drive in Clegg.
 
The bottom of the fourth inning began with a leadoff solo shot from the Firebirds in what would lead to a seven-run frame. A mix of timely hitting from Carthage and control issues from the Thunder created the large inning, but freshman Jack Mazurowski was able to escape a greater jam in relief and give the Wheaton offense a chance moving forward.
 
Wheaton scratched together three more runs in the top of the sixth inning, working three walks and a pinch hit, a two RBI, single from Caleb Schauer brought the game to within four runs.
Carthage brought across two more in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a leadoff double and a steal of third. A groundball to shortstop scored the ninth run of the game, and the tenth was driven in by an RBI single.

The visitors climbed back to within one run in the top of the seventh. Some clutch hitting from Braden Engel, a sac fly from Clegg, a bases loaded walk from Nathan Hedlund, and yet another pinch hit, 2 RBI single, this time coming off the bat of David Levengood accounted for all of the runs in the seventh.

The Thunder would not score after that point despite multiple valiant efforts on offense. A home run from Carthage would give the Firebirds a two-run advantage that would not be relinquished in the ninth.

On offense, Wheaton went 9-for-34 with seven walks and eight strikeouts. Mason Diel was 3-for-5 with a double, Caleb Schauer was 1-for-3 with two RBI and David Levengood recorded two RBI in his pinch hitting appearance. Starter Carson Grier threw 3-1/3 innings, allowing six hits, seven runs, five earned runs, striking out two and walking three. Jack Mazurowski worked 3-2/3 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, walking none and striking out three.

Game two started off with a bang for the Thunder, who came out of the gate scoring six runs in the top of the first . Jack Gill started the scoring frenzy with a two-run double, who was following by Will Clegg hitting a double of his own for the third-consecutive double of the inning for the Thunder.

Nathan Hedlund contributed a RBI-single, Hedlund was driven in by Braden Engel who ripped a triple into the left-center gap, and finally Caleb Schauer hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Engel.

Wheaton forced the opposing starter out early and Mason Diel, who doubled in the first, greeted the Carthage reliever with a solo shot for his third home run of the season. Starter Alex Bagley tossed a shutdown inning in the first but did allow one run off three single in the bottom of the second, though he was able to get out of the inning with minimal damage.

After three quiet half-innings, Carthage struck for a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking advantage of the weather and the walks. It took another half inning, but the reduced lead awoke the Wheaton bats once again, scoring two in the top of the sixth capped off by an RBI-single from Gill.

The scoring concluded with a two-run home run from Gill, putting a nice bow on a five-RBI performance.

On the pitching side, Josh Ortiz ensured the lead stayed put, relieving Bagley after his five innings of work. Ortiz pitched an electric two innings, before passing the baton to high-leverage reliever Billy Kessler and closer JD Van Hook.

On offense, Wheaton went 14-for-39, good for a .359 batting average on the day and their five walks were good for a .487 on-base percentage. The Thunder recorded eight extra base hits, five doubles, one triple and two home runs. Shortstop Jack Gill was 3-for-6 with a double, home run, and a whopping five RBI, his second-highest total of the season. Three 2-for-5, one RBI performances from Mason Diel, Will Clegg, and Nathan Hedlund contributed to today's offensive outburst for the Thunder.

Starter Alex Bagley tossed five innings, giving up five runs, seven hits, walking three, and striking out three as well. Ortiz pitched two innings, striking out four, giving up no runs,0 walking two, and allowing two hits. Both Billy Kessler and JD Van Hook tossed the final two innings, pitching one shutout inning apiece, and recording a strikeout each as well.

Wheaton will look to carry their series-victory momentum into their midweek matchup against Illinois Wesleyan on Tuesday in Bloomington, Illinois. First pitch against the Titans is at 6:00 PM.