Kenosha, Wis. – The Wheaton College baseball team earned a 6-1 victory at Carthage College on Friday afternoon in the first game of a three-game series to conclude the conference schedule. Tomorrow's doubleheader is critical for both teams as they head into the final stretch of CCIW games in a four-team mix for the final spot in next week's CCIW baseball tournament. Tomorrow's CCIW twinbill between the two teams will start at 1 PM at Wheaton's Lee Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream, Illinois.

Wheaton scored six runs, on seven hits, with no errors and Carthage tallied one run, on four hits, with one error. Thunder starting pitcher Michael Kauffman was stellar on the mound to earn the win, improving his record on the year to 6-1. Kauffman allowed one run, on four hits, with three strikeouts and no walks.

Thunder second baseman Matt Schappell was 2-for-4, with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base. John Johnson was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Desmond Cato crossed the plate twice for the Thunder.

Wheaton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Cato drew a one-out walk, advanced to third base on a single by Kyle Mellinger and scored on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Michael Szalach. Wheaton added two more runs in the top of the third inning as Schappell and Johnson hit singles and later scored for the Thunder.

Wheaton extended its lead to 6-0 with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Schappell, Phil Tuttle and Justin Swider opened the inning with singles to help the Wheaton cause. Carthage scored its first run in the bottom of the sixth inning to trim the Thunder lead to 6-1. Kauffman continued his strong effort on the mound to earn the dominating complete game victory.