Box Score

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - Trailing 10-5 after six innings, the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team scored four runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth to come from behind and beat Wheaton 14-10 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener for both clubs.

Illinois Wesleyan improved to 11-4 overall and 1-0 in the league while the Thunder is now 10-7 overall and 0-1 in league play. The same teams battle Saturday (March 31) at Horenberger Field in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

In the eighth inning rally with IWU trailing 10-9, junior shortstop Zach Scott led off with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior leftfielder Mark McDermott. After sophomore centerfielder Jon Frericks walked, sophomore third baseman Johnathan Erickson reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, setting up a two-run double to right center by junior first baseman Kevin Callahan.

Junior catcher A.J. Nathan then doubled to chase home Erickson and Callahan and Nathan scored on a single by senior rightfielder Kevin Sullivan.

The four runs in the seventh came as McDermott reached on an error and Frericks walked. Both advanced on a passed ball and an Erickson ground out scored McDermott and a single up the middle by Callahan plated Frericks.  After Nathan singled down the leftfield line, sophomore designated hitter Bobby Czarnowski doubled to right center to score two runs.

Sophomore righthander Matthew Conrad (1-0) pitched six strong innings of relief, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out four. Sophomore John Frueh struck out two in working a perfect ninth.

Titans starter Joe Sweeney was touched for nine runs, all earned, on nine hits in 1 2/3 innings as the Thunder scored seven in the second.

The Titans got 14 hits with three each from Nathan and Callahan, who had four RBI, and two hits from McDermott, Czarnowski and Sullivan.