The Beloit College baseball team posted three runs in the bottom of the ninth but their comeback fell short in an 8-6 loss to William Paterson in their final game of the RussMatt Invitational in Auburndale, Florida Saturday.

The Pioneers got on the board first in the top of the third. WPU used three hits and a pair of miscues to plate three runs in the inning. Beloit responded in kind in the bottom half of the frame. A Pioneer error allowed Brice Call to reach with one out. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on Nick Schmidt's triple to right center. James Wicker followed with a single up the middle that brought in Schmidt. Wicker moved into scoring position on a foul fly ball to left field and crossed the plate on Ethan Conley's two-out single to right field to tie the game 3-3 after three innings.

The Pioneer offense continued to roll plating two more off of three hits, a sacrifice hit and a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth. A single, two doubles and a triple plated three more in the top of the fifth for WPU to make it 8-3 in favor of the Pioneers.

The Bucs threatened but were unable to push any runs across until the bottom of the ninth. Jake Baltierrez drew a pinch hit walk to lead off the inning and was replaced on the basepaths by Tyler Assiff. Matthew Celentano drew another walk, this time with one out to put two runners on for Beloit. Schmidt singled to center to load the bases forcing a pitching change for the Pioneers. Wicker grounded out in the next at bat to bring in one run. Davis tagged a double to right field to plate two more but the Bucs push for a comeback was ended on a strikeout.

Wicker led the Bucs at the plate going 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Schmidt, Davis, Conley and Mitch Campbell each registered two hits in the game. Josh Nelson suffered the loss on the mound.