BELOIT, Wis. – The Beloit College baseball team showcased resilience and offensive depth, overcoming an early three-run deficit to secure a convincing 9-3 victory over Rockford University on Thursday evening at ABC Supply Stadium. The win improves Beloit's record to 13-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
Rockford (13-11, 3-7 NACC) struck first, plating two runs in the top of the first inning on a home run by Kadin Bergstrom and adding another in the second to take a quick 3-0 lead.
However, the Buccaneers answered emphatically in the bottom of the second. Jordan Rosenberg (Leawood, KS) led off with a single and advanced when Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) was hit by a pitch. Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) delivered an RBI single, scoring Rosenberg. After Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) singled to load the bases, Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) brought Nelson home with a sacrifice fly. Alport then manufactured the tying run, stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error by Rockford's shortstop, allowing Tomsyck to score unearned.
Beloit took the lead for good in the fourth inning. Brody Bremer (Mesa, Ariz.) singled, advanced on a Tomsyck single, stole third, and then scampered home on a throwing error by the Rockford catcher, giving Beloit a 4-3 advantage.
The Buccaneers broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth. Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) and Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.) hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. A wild pitch allowed Wood to score, pushing the lead to 5-3. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Alport drew an RBI walk, scoring Love. A subsequent balk by the Rockford pitcher allowed Nelson, who had walked earlier, to score, extending the Beloit lead to 7-3.
Beloit continued to add insurance runs. In the sixth, pinch-hitter Vinnie Lutz (Cary, Ill.) drove in A. Wood with a sacrifice fly. In the seventh, Wood collected an RBI of his own with a sacrifice fly, scoring Alport, who had reached base after being hit by a pitch.
The Beloit offense was productive throughout the lineup, collecting 13 hits and drawing 7 walks. Wood had a standout game, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a sacrifice fly. Love also collected two hits and scored a run. Brankey and Tomsyck each contributed two hits and an RBI, with Tomsyck adding a run scored and two stolen bases. Nelson reached base twice via a double and a walk, scoring two key runs. Alport reached base three times (single, walk, HBP), scoring twice, driving in a run, stealing a base, and adding a sacrifice fly.
On the mound, Beloit utilized nine different pitchers, each effectively throwing one inning. Nolan Wright (Carmel, Ind.) earned the win with a perfect fourth inning, striking out one. The staff combined to allow only three hits and three runs (all earned in the first two innings) while striking out eight Rockford batters. Alport, after starting the game in center field, came on to pitch a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two to close out the victory.
Rockford starter Nate Burdin took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on ten hits and two walks over 4.2 innings.
The Buccaneers head back into MWC play this weekend. On Saturday, they head to Ripon College to face the Redhawks in a doubleheader before closing out the series in Beloit on Sunday. Saturday's first pitch is set for 12 pm from Francis Field.
