GRINNELL, IA. - This afternoon the Beloit College baseball team wrapped up their MWC series against the Grinnell College Pioneers. After putting up 16 runs in game two yesterday, the Buccaneers (19-11, 12-7 MWC) struggled to string together timely hits and fell to the Pioneers (13-18, 6-9 MWC) 8-1. 

After going down in order in the first, the Bucs tallied their first run of the game in the top of the second when Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.) singled to second. He got to second when Evan Zenger (Burr Ridge, Ill.) was hit by a pitch but never made it any further. With the game still scoreless heading into the top of the third, Beloit looked to get something going. Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) reached on a walk but was caught trying to steal second to eliminate the base runner. Grinnell broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third with two runs. Vogel reached in the top of the fourth via an error but was stranded on second for the second time. The Pioneers tacked on three more in the bottom half of the inning to extend their lead to 5-0. Another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth for the Bucs left them hoping to return the favor and hold GC scoreless for the first time in two innings. 

The Buccaneers put up their one and only run of the game in the top of the sixth when Alport hit a solo shot to left field. The Pioneers responded with a three run home run of their own in the bottom of the eight to round out the scoring. 

Kaiya Nishino (Seattle, Wash.) got the start for the Bucs, going 3.1 innings before making way for Tommy Murray (Rockton, Ill.). Murray pitched 2.2 innings, striking out three. Micah Wilk (Martinez, Calif.) threw the final two innings and also struck out three. 

Beloit heads up to Appleton, Wis. on Wednesday, April 24th. The Buccaneers and Vikings will finish their game that was suspended due to rain on April 16th and then play the final game of that series.