March 30, 2011

Wheaton (Ill.) rallies to defeat University of Chicago 7-6

More news about: Wheaton (Ill.)

Lisle, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder baseball team rallied from a 5-1 deficit to earn a 7-6 victory against University of Chicago on Wednesday night at the Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex. Wheaton scored seven runs, on nine hits, with one error and Chicago scored six runs, on nine hits, with one error.

Wheaton improves to 8-8 on the season with tonight's win and University of Chicago is now 6-5. The Thunder will open conference play on Friday at 3 PM when it hosts Augustana College in the CCIW opener at the Lisle-Benedictine Sports Complex.

The Maroons scored a run in the opening inning of the game and Wheaton countered with a run in the bottom of the first thanks to a RBI-double by Justin Zeller. The Maroons plated four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 5-1 edge on the Thunder. Wheaton cut the guests' lead to 5-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning as senior Josh Williams drew a one-out walk and later scored on a Chicago passed ball.

Chicago extended its lead to 6-2 with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Wheaton countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Maroons' lead to 6-4. The Thunder runs in the sixth came on a RBI-triple by Drew Golz. Golz scored on wild pitch in the next at bat. Wheaton took its first lead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Junior catcher Austin Driggers drove in a pair of runs with a two-run single to tie the game and Golz hit a RBI-single to drive in the go-ahead run for the hosts. A combined strong effort by Wheaton relievers Phillip Tuttle and Luke Ross shut the door on the Maroons following the Thunder rally.

Starting pitcher Jimmy McDonald worked 2-1/3 innings as he allowed five runs, with three earned runs, on five hits, with two strikeouts and one walk. Tuttle picked up his first collegiate victory with 4-2/3 innings of relief as he allowed one run, on four hits, with three strikeouts and two walks. Ross earned his first save, with two innings of hitless relief as he held the Maroons to no hits or walks with three strikeouts.

Golz was 2-for-3 on the night, with a triple as he drove in two runs and scored an additional run. Zellers was 2-for-3, with walk and a double as he scored a pair of runs, with a RBI. Trey Martin was 2-for-4, with two runs scored. Williams was 1-for-2, with a walk and a run scored.