Carol Stream, Ill. - The Thunder baseball team wrapped up its regular season schedule by completing a three-game sweep of Illinois Wesleyan with win of 5-2 and 8-2 over the Titans. Wheaton has now won seven straight CCIW games to finish the conference slate at 14-7 and improve to 21-19 overall. The 14 conference wins is a new program record for the Thunder. Illinois Wesleyan falls to 24-14 overall and 12-9 in conference play.

Wheaton scored five runs on 10 hits with no errors in game one and tallied eight runs on 10 hits with one error in the nightcap. Illinois Wesleyan scored two runs on six hits with two errors in game one and two runs on 12 hits with no errors in game two. Wheaton has now limited its opponents to three or fewer runs in each of the last nine games.

Wheaton took the first lead of the game in game one when a two-out error in the bottom of the third inning by the Titans led to a run for the hosts. After the Titans tied the game in the top of the fourth, Wheaton took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Schappell's two-out triple plated Peter Newman and Kyle Trivits, who each coaxed a walk. Schappell then scored on a passed ball to give Wheaton a 4-1 lead.

IWU struck for one run in the top of the sixth inning but Daniel Bayer worked out of a bases loaded jam without further damage. Wheaton again responded with a run in the bottom of the inning when JD Carpenter's double off the wall in center scored Newman to make it 5-2.

Daniel Bayer (PICTURED LEFT) earned the win by allowing only two runs on five hits in seven innings of work while stricking out nine. John Schmitz pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts to earn his third save of the season.

In the nightcap, it was again the Thunder jumping out to a quick lead when Johnny Peltz singled home Alex MaLossi in the bottom of the first inning. The Titans tied the game in the top of the second inning and took their first lead of the series with a run in the top of the fourth inning to make it 2-1 in favor of the guests.

Wheaton tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on Casey Moll's first career home run. Two batters later, Kyle Trivits doubled to right center and came home to score on Schappell's RBI single.

Kyle Mellinger (PICTURED RIGHT) led off the fifth inning with a solo home run to left to give Wheaton a 4-2 lead. Matt Ferretti made it a three-run lead with an infield single that scored Johnny Peltz and Moll added another run with a deep sacrifice fly to make it 6-2. A two-run double by Peltz in the bottom of the sixth inning pushed the lead to 8-2.

Michael Kaufman turned in his third straight start of seven or more innings thrown with three or fewer runs allowed. The junior southpaw surrendered two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Casey Balikian threw a scoreless two innings of relief to complete the game.

With the series win, the Thunder earned the second seed for the upcoming CCIW Tournament. Wheaton will open the tournament by facing the third-seeded Titans at 3 PM on Thursday, May 7. North Central will serve as the host of the tournament after winning the CCIW. The Cardinals will face #4-seeded Carthage at noon on Thursday to open the tournament.