Box Score

CAROL STREAM, Ill. - The Benedictine University baseball team used another big fifth-inning to rally past Wheaton 9-6 in non-conference action on Wednesday.

Wheaton opened a 3-0 lead early, striking for a pair of first inning runs with two outs. The Thunder added another tally in the bottom of the third against Benedictine starter Nick Diessner.

For the second consecutive contest, the fifth inning propelled Benedictine to the win. The Eagles, who had managed just two hits against Wheaton starter Peter Moran entering the inning, posted five in chasing Moran from the game. Steve Cocat recorded a one-out single to open the rally and with two away, Mike Loni registered a base hit. Tim Hendricks scored the first two runs of the game with a triple to the gap in right-center. Nick Karakosta tied the game with a single to left and swiped second. Ryan Mullin then belted his first homer of the season to hand Benedictine a 5-3 lead.

Benedictine extended the lead with another big inning in the sixth. Tom Higgins logged an RBI single to score Kevin Hendricks. Loni lifted a sacrifice fly to make the lead 7-3, and with two outs, Karakosta rocketed a double to left field to plate two more and make the lead 9-3. Wheaton attempted to rally with a run in the sixth and brought the tying run to the plate following a pair of runs in the ninth, but Matt Vucovich used his defense to shut the door.

Benedictine used six pitchers in the contest and banged out 11 hits. Diessner lasted 4.1 innings in his second start. Ty Anderson collected the victory in relief. Karakosta was one of four individuals to post two hits, driving home three runs. Tim Hendricks, Higgins, and Loni also posted more than one hit in the win.

The contest was a makeup for both teams, who lost games earlier this season. For Benedictine, the contest replaced one of the three lost in St. Louis to open the year. The two teams will make up another game later in April at Benedictine. Nine times this season the Eagles have struck for four or more runs in an inning.

Benedictine (8-3), who has trailed in every victory this season, will host Concordia Chicago on Saturday in the Northern Athletics Conference opener. First pitch in the doubleheader is slated for 12:00 p.m. at the Sports Complex.