RIPON, Wis. – The Beloit College baseball team split with Ripon College this afternoon. The Bucs put together a powerful offensive display in game one, securing a crucial 10-5 Midwest Conference victory over Ripon College at Francis Field. The win improves the Buccaneers' record to 15-9 overall and evens their MWC mark at 4-3, matching Ripon's conference standing.
Game 1:
Beloit wasted no time getting on the board after two scoreless innings. The top of the third saw the Buccaneers break through decisively. Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) drew a walk and advanced to third on Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) double. Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) then delivered a clutch two-run double to left field, plating both runners. Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.) followed immediately with an RBI single, scoring Brankey and pushing Beloit's lead to 3-0.
After the Red Hawks (10-13, 5-3 MWC) scratched across an unearned run in the bottom of the third, Beloit answered emphatically in the fourth. Following another walk to Nelson, Brody Bremer (Mesa, Ariz.) launched a two-run homer to left field, extending the lead to 5-1.
The Buccaneers weren't done, adding three more runs in the sixth inning. An error by the Ripon shortstop allowed Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.) to score an unearned run and put runners in scoring position. Sacrifice flies from Riley Ponio (Morris, Ill.) and Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) each brought home a run, pushing Beloit's advantage to a commanding 8-1.
Ripon mounted a significant rally in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs on five hits to close the gap to 8-5. However, the Beloit bullpen and offense quickly stabilized the game.
Beloit added insurance runs late. In the seventh, Nelson collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly, scoring Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) who had walked and advanced earlier. Wood himself put the exclamation point on the victory in the ninth inning, crushing a solo home run to left field for the final 10-5 margin.
On the mound, Aiden Phipps (Simi Valley, Calif.) started and earned the win for Beloit. He navigated six innings, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out five and walking one. Harvey Pena (Riverside, Calif.) delivered a stellar relief performance to lock down the victory and earn his fourth save of the season. Pena tossed three scoreless innings, yielding just one hit and two walks while striking out five Ripon batters.
Game 2:
Despite erasing an early deficit and mounting a ninth-inning charge, the Bucs fell 7-6 to Ripon in game 2.
Beloit struck first and emphatically in the top of the third inning. After Alport scored the game's first run on an RBI single by Vogel, left fielder Wood launched a three-run homer to left field, staking the Buccaneers to a 4-0 lead. Wood had an outstanding day at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with the home run, four RBIs, and a run scored.
Ripon chipped away immediately, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third, aided by a Beloit error, and tied the game 4-4 in the fourth on an RBI groundout.
The Buccaneers reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth. Tomsyck singled and came around to score on an RBI double by catcher Nelson, making it 5-4.
However, the lead was short-lived. Ripon tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on another Beloit error, and then took the lead for good in the seventh with a two-run single.
Beloit refused to go quietly. In the top of the ninth, Miles Souza (Carpinteria, Calif.) (2-for-4, 2 Runs) and Vogel (3-for-5, 1 RBI) delivered back-to-back singles. Pinch runner Ryan Kopp (Pinole, Calif.) advanced to third before Wood drove him in with his fourth hit of the day, a single to center field, cutting the deficit to 7-6. Unfortunately, the rally stalled there as a double play ended the threat and the game.
Beyond Wood's stellar performance, Souza, Vogel, Tomsyck (2-for-4, 1 Run), and Alport (2-for-5, 1 Run, 2B, SB) all collected multiple hits for the Beloit offense, which pounded out 13 hits in total.
Starter Ben Schweit (Simi Valley, CA.) pitched 5.1 innings for Beloit, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out five and walking none. Maddon McArthur (Redondo Beach, Calif.) took the loss in relief, giving up two earned runs over 2.2 innings. Defensive miscues hampered the Buccaneers, leading to two unearned runs for Ripon on three total errors.
Ripon scattered 10 hits, led by Pankratz (3-for-4, 2 Runs) and Anderson (2-for-4, 2 RBI). Rieden (W, 2-0) earned the win in relief for the hosts.
The Buccaneers and Red Hawks close out the series tomorrow afternoon in Beloit. First pitch from The Ballpark at Strong Stadium is set for 12 pm.
