The Beloit College baseball team bounced back from a Sunday afternoon loss at Grinnell to top the Pioneers in a twinbill Monday. The Buccaneers opened the day with a 5-3 comeback win and wrapped up the three-game series with a 13-2 route of the home squad.
Beloit struggled to get going against a strong starting hurler in the opener falling behind 3-0 after five innings. With just a few opportunities left, the Buc offense started to get their timing down and capitalized in the top of the eighth.
Evan Zenger opened the frame reaching on a Grinnell defensive miscue.
Matt O'Leary put two runners on for Beloit with a single to left field.
Garrison Ferone plated the Bucs' first run of the contest with a double to right field.
With the lead cut to 3-1, the Pioneers made a myriad of defensive changes including a switch on the mound.
Drew Freitag put the pressure on with a groundball and despite capturing an out, two Bucs scored on an ensuing error to knot the game 3-3.
AJ Fitzpatrick came up with a huge pinch hit double down the left field line and
Brett Kiger made it back-to-back doubles to give Beloit a 5-3 advantage.
The Bucs' defense didn't allow a runner passed second base in the final two innings to seal the win.
Ferone led the Buc offense with two of the team's seven hits in the game.
Eamon Burke reigstered the start and scattered seven hits across five innings of work while striking out three.
Kaiya Nishino tossed four shutout innings in relief while striking out four and issuing a single walk.
Jacob Sligar pitched a gem in game two while the Buc offense had their hurler's back plating 13 runs in the contest. Sligar struck out seven while walking two and allowing just two runs in eight innings of work.
Beloit's offense tallied four runs in the fifth and then added three in each of the final three innings of the game.
O'Leary was 3-for-5 in the batter's box with each of his three singles plating a pair of runs to lead all players with six RBI. Ferone and Fitzpatrick also tallied multiple hits in the game.
