There was no shortage of drama in a twinbill Beloit College baseball hosted Sunday afternoon. The Bucs topped the Raiders of Milwaukee School of Engineering 7-3 in the opener followed by an incredible 9-8 comeback win in the nightcap.
The Buccaneers carried a huge four-run first inning all the way to victory in game one. Brice Call led off the inning with a triple down the right field line that scooted past the glove of a diving Raider outfielder and bounced its way to the fence. Nick Schmidt followed with an RBI single to right field to tally the Bucs' first run of the game. Jalen Davis drew a walk and Jeremy Dutton showed off his wheels legging out a bunt single to load the bases. Baylee Slevira registered the run batted in on a free pass to first. Terrance Cribbs' single to left center in the next at bat brought in another run. Beloit's fourth run of the inning came on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Hunter Fujitani that plated Dutton.
The Bucs notched 10 hits in the game including two off the bats of Dutton, Cribbs and Matthew Celentano. Schmidt scored three of the team's seven runs after reaching on a hit and twice via hit-by-pitch and added four stolen bases in the contest.
Jamie Huntley picked up the win on the mound scattering four hits over 5.2 innings of work while striking out three and allowing just one earned run in 24 batters faced.
MSOE looked to put the game out of reach after tallying seven runs in the first two innings but the Bucs refused to fold and battled their way back into the game.
Beloit began erasing the seven-run deficit in the bottom of the third. Mark Christine got the bats going with a one-out single to right field. Christine stole second and Call drew a walk to put two runners on. With two outs, Davis and Dutton tagged back-to-back singles to plate two runs and make it 7-2.
The Bucs doubled up in the bottom of the fifth. Schmidt opened the inning with a single through the left side and advanced all the way to third on two wild pitches. A Raider miscue allowed Davis to reach safely and Schmidt to score. Davis moved into scoring position, just 90 feet away by thievery and was able to score on Bronson Balholm's single to center field narrowing the gap to 7-4.
Cribbs continued to swing the momentum into Beloit's favor with a leadoff single to right field in the bottom of the sixth. Christine perfectly executed a sacrifice bunt moving Cribbs into scoring position. Cribbs did just that, scored, two batters later on Schmidt's single to right center to cut the lead to 7-5.
After a scoreless seventh, the Bucs faced a two-run deficit with just two offensive opportunities left in the game. Call drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth. Two consecutive errors on the middle infield plated one run making it 7-6 and put runners on the corners. Davis stole second. Compounding the drama of the innings, Dutton struck out swinging but the ball got passed the Raiders' catcher. Schmidt scored on the play, Davis landed on third and Dutton made his way to second. Ethan Conley came up with a clutch single that plated two more runs and gave the Buccaneers a 9-7 lead.
MSOE threatened in the top of the ninth with a pinch hitter drawing a one-out walk. Down to their last out, a bobble in the infield put two runners on. A two-out single plated one run but reliever Keith Haina tallied possibly the biggest strikeout of the game to end the threat and register the win.
Conley went 3-for-4 from the batter's box with two clutch RBI. Schmidt and Christine each added two hits and combined for three runs scored.
Haina picked up his second win of the season (2-0) striking out five and scattering four hits in four innings of relief.
On Deck: The Bucs will head to Chicago to take on the Maroons April 2. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
