MONMOUTH, Ill. - To cap off a crazy conference opening weekend for the Beloit College baseball team, the Buccaneers used back-to-back-to-back home runs to take the series win over the Cornell College Rams. The Buccaneers (9-5, 2-1 MWC) fell in game one 7-9 before defeating the Rams (9-6, 1-2 MWC) 13-16 to close the series. 

Game 1: L, 7-9
Cornell struck right away in the top of the first, bringing two runs across. Beloit answered in the bottom of the first thanks to a three run bomb from Brett Kiger (Beloit, Wis.). With Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.) aboard, Kiger smashed one over the right field fence. 

The Rams tied the game in the top of the second. Neither team scored until the bottom of the fourth when the Bucs' added two more runs. After Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) singled, Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.) hit into a double play to clear the bases. RJ Pouzar (Hartford, Wis.) singled up the middle and came into score on the Bucs' second long shot of the game. This time Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) launched one over the center field fence. 

With Caleb Lasher (Albuquerque, N.M.) in to pitch, Cornell capitalized. The Rams found their power and sent two solo home runs out tie the game at five. They then took a 7-5 lead later in the fifth inning. Beloit got one back in the bottom of the fifth when Evan Zenger (Burr Ridge, Ill.) singled in Miles Souza (Carpinteria, Calif.) from second base. For the second straight inning, Cornell used back-to-back home runs to extend their lead. This time taking a 9-6 lead. Kiger continued the home run party in the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot to left, making the score 7-9 in favor of Cornell. 

Game 2: W, 16-13 
The Rams wasted no time scoring, bringing in three runs in the top of the first. In the bottom of the first, the side was retired in order for the Bucs, with three straight strike outs. In the bottom of the second they answered with three runs of their own to tie the game. Kiger led off the inning with a walk. Zenger double to center, putting runners on second and third. In to pinch hit, Drew Hanson (Edgerton, Wis.) doubled to left center to score both Kiger and Zenger. Preston Matson (Roselle, Ill.) drove in the third and final run of the inning with a single to left field. 

Cornell answered with a single run in the top of the third, again taking the lead. The Bucs' tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Vogel singled to right field and moved to second on a wild pitch. Kiger walked and both advanced a base on the second wild pitch of the inning. Zenger grounded out to the second basemen but Vogel scored on the play. Cornell took a 5-4 lead after the top half of the fourth. 

The Bucs' looked to be in control after scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Love led off the inning with a double to right field. Both Hanson and Nelson walked to load the bases. Alport hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Love and moving Hanson to third. Nelson was out at second. Brendan Meyers (Palatine, Ill.) singled to center to score Hanson. Vogel grounded out to second, scoring Alport for the third and final run of the inning. 

Beloit extended their lead to six, 11-5 in the bottom of the sixth. Nelson and Alport led off the inning with back-to-back walks. Meyers and Vogel followed up with back-to-back singles. Vogel's single scored Nelson. With the bases loaded, Kiger walked, scoring Alport. Tomsyck reached on a fielder's choice that scored Meyers. Kiger was safe at second after an error by the second basemen. Again with the bases loaded, a run was walked in when Hanson drew the walk. 

In the top of the seventh, the Rams started to dig into the lead, scoring three runs. Not to be outdone, Beloit produced their own fireworks in the bottom half of the inning. Meyers, Vogel and Kiger combined for back-to-back-to-back home runs, one to right, one to center and one to left. Cornell pulled within one in the top of the eighth but Beloit once again pulled away in the bottom of the inning. Jacopo "JT" Tamburini (Bologna, Italy) pinch hit to lead off the inning. He was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a passed ball. Alport doubled to score Tamburini. Vogel traded places with Alport following a double of his own to put the Bucs ahead 16-13. 

Alport came into pitch the top of the ninth and retired the side in order. Kaiya Nishino (Seattle, Wash.) got the start on the mound for the Bucs, going four innings, striking out four. Eamon Burke (Helena, Mont.) replaced Nashino, pitching the fifth and sixth innings. Harvey Pena (Riverside, Calif.) pitched the seventh and eighth and struck out three. 

The Buccaneers are scheduled to take on Rockford University tomorrow evening. First pitch from ABC Supply Stadium in Beloit is set for 6 pm.