North Port, Fla. - The Thunder baseball team concluded a successful spring trip on Saturday afternoon with a 9-1 victory over John Carroll University. Wheaton finishes the trip riding a five-game winning streak and holding a 7-3 overall record. John Carroll is now 4-7. Wheaton will now return to Lee Pfund Stadium for its home opener on Friday, March 17, when the Thunder host Saint Mary's (Minn.) in the first of a seven-game home stand.

Wheaton scored in six of the nine innings against the Blue Streaks, opening the game with a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI groundout by Johnny Peltz scoring Jacob Zeller. Brett Albaugh scored on a wild pitch in the top of the second and Nick Mailman singled home Peter Newman to give the Thunder a 3-0 lead after two innings.

John Carroll scored its only run in the bottom of the third inning but Wheaton answered in the next half inning when John McKenna roped a double to left field scoring Newman from first base to make it 4-1.A two-run triple by Newman in the top of the fifth inning broke the game open to give the Thunder a 6-1 lead.

Jacob Zeller singled in a run in the top of the sixth inning, and Newman and McKenna brought home a run with a walk and a hit by pitch in the top of the ninth inning to account for Wheaton's final three runs.

Christian Bolhuis earned the win for the Thunder, allowing just one unearned run on five hits over six innings of work. The sophomore improved to 2-0 on the season after allowing two walks and striking out four. Kyle Ferraro threw one scoreless inning of relief and Nick Johnson fired two scoreless innings.

Peter Newman led the Thunder offense with three hits and three RBIs. John McKenna added two runs driven in.

Wheaton will host the first of consecutive round robin tournaments next weekend when the Thunder welcome Saint Mary's (Minn.), Aurora and Calvin to Lee Pfund Stadium.