Waukesha, Wis. – Wheaton baseball concluded its conference series against Carroll on Saturday in what was essentially a win-and-in scenario for both teams as they jockey for a spot in the upcoming six-team CCIW Baseball Tournament. After dropping Friday's contest to the Pioneers, the Thunder needed to sweep Saturday's doubleheader to keep their conference tournament hopes alive. Wheaton did just that, winning both games 9-5, with the second coming in dramatic fashion. With the sweep, Wheaton improved to 16-19 overall and 9-10 in conference play, while Carroll fell to 20-18 overall and 8-11 in conference.

Game one started quickly for the Thunder. Freshman Tyler Burr drew a leadoff walk and Jack Gill was hit by a pitch. Will Clegg then hit into what looked like an inning-ending double play, but an error by the Carroll second baseman allowed Burr to score. Charlie Scofield followed with an RBI single to right field, and a bases-loaded walk from Caleb Kelley brought in a third run.
The Pioneers responded with a leadoff double into the right-center gap that eventually scored on a sacrifice fly following a wild pitch, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Both starters settled in over the next several innings. Carroll added another run after a leadoff walk was advanced to third and brought home on an RBI single. Later, another leadoff single came around to score, ending Carson Grier's outing. Billy Kessler entered in relief and limited the damage to just one run despite a bases-loaded walk.

Wheaton broke the game open in the top of the seventh, chasing the Carroll starter and scoring five runs against the bullpen. Gill doubled to put runners in scoring position, and although Clegg lined out with a strong defensive play cutting down a runner at home, Scofield delivered a two-RBI double on a 2-0 fastball. After Nathan Hedlund was hit by a pitch, Chris Lynam made his pinch-hit appearance count, launching a three-run home run just inside the left-field corner to give Wheaton an 8-3 lead.

Carroll attempted to rally with a solo home run and three-consecutive singles to plate two more runs, but Wheaton answered in the eighth. Gill doubled again and scored on an RBI single from Scofield, providing the final margin in a 9-5 victory.

The Thunder offense recorded nine hits, four for extra bases, along with four walks and six strikeouts. Scofield led the way, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs, while Lynam went 1-for-1 with a three-run homer.

On the mound, Grier threw 5-2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out four and walking three. Kessler earned the win with 1-1/3 innings of relief, allowing two runs. Jonah Moulton and JD Van Hook each threw a scoreless inning, with Van Hook striking out two in the ninth.

Game two opened less favorably for the guests, as Wheaton allowed a leadoff home run to fall behind 1-0. The Thunder answered quickly, with Sean Dmyotrowicz driving in Nathan Hedlund on an RBI single.

Carroll regained the lead with another leadoff home run, but Mason Diel responded immediately, tying the game at two with a first-pitch solo shot.

The back-and-forth continued as Carroll took a 3-2 lead on an RBI single, though starter Alex Bagley escaped further damage. In the fourth, Hedlund led off with a solo home run to tie the game again. Later in the inning, Dmyotrowicz singled, advanced on a bunt, and scored on a Burr double to give Wheaton a 4-3 lead.

Both starters then settled in, with Bagley working out of multiple jams by inducing weak contact. Carroll tied the game at four in the seventh following an error, a steal, and a double play. Another
defensive miscue in the eighth allowed Carroll to take a 5-4 lead, leaving Wheaton down to its final three outs.

After a leadoff strikeout in the ninth, Dmyotrowicz singled to keep hope alive. Lynam reached on an error, and with two outs, Burr delivered a clutch RBI single up the middle to tie the game at five. Moments later, fifth-year senior Mason Diel provided the decisive blow, launching a three-run home run over the center-field fence. Scofield added an insurance run with an RBI single, sealing a 9-5 comeback victory.

Wheaton totaled 13 hits in game two, including five for extra bases and three home runs. Diel led the offense, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs. Burr finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Dmyotrowicz went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Bagley threw 7-2/3 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on 12 hits while striking out one and walking three. JD Van Hook closed out the game with 1-1/3 scoreless innings.

Wheaton's next matchup will be a non-conference game against Aurora University on Tuesday at 6:00 PM. The road matchup against the Spartans is a make-up game of a contest that was originally scheduled for April 16, but postponed due to weather.