BELOIT, Wis. – The Beloit College baseball team improved its conference standing with a decisive 7-2 victory over Grinnell College at home this afternoon. Powered by clutch hitting in the middle innings and solid pitching throughout, the Buccaneers moved to 17-10 overall and 5-4 in conference play. The Bucs' offense came alive after a nearly two hour weather delay with two outs in the sixth.
Grinnell struck first, plating two runs in the top of the fourth inning on a two-RBI single by Sean Tashjian off Beloit starter Aiden Phipps (Simi Valley, Calif.). That lead, however, would be short-lived.
The Buccaneers' offense, held quiet through the first four frames, came alive in the bottom of the fifth. After Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) singled and Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) walked, Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) delivered a timely single up the middle, scoring both runners to tie the game 2-2.
Beloit seized control definitively in the bottom of the sixth inning, erupting for four runs. On the first pitch after the delay, Brody Bremer (Mesa, Ariz.) provided the go-ahead blow with a two-RBI double to right-center, again scoring Nelson and Tomsyck, who had both reached via walks. The rally continued as Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) singled through the left side, bringing Bremer home. Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.) followed with another RBI single, plating Brankey (who had walked) to extend the lead to 6-2.
The Buccaneers added an insurance run in the seventh when Miles Souza (Carpinteria, Calif.) led off with a double and later scored on an RBI single to center field by Tomsyck, capping the scoring at 7-2.
On the mound, Phipps settled in after the fourth inning, pitching six strong innings to earn the win. He allowed just the two earned runs on seven hits while striking out four and, crucially, issuing no walks. Harvey Pena (Riverside, Calif.) shut the door out of the bullpen, tossing three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out two to collect his sixth save of the season. The save marked the 18th of Pena's career, a new Midwest Conference record. The Beloit staff combined to limit Grinnell to just two walks for the entire game.
Offensively, Beloit pounded out 11 hits and benefited from six walks. Tomsyck led the charge, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Brankey reached base four times (2 hits, 2 walks) and drove in two key runs. Bremer's lone hit was the decisive two-run double. Souza contributed two hits, including a double, and scored a run, while Alport and Vogel each chipped in with two hits and an RBI. Nelson proved valuable at the plate despite not recording a hit, drawing three walks and scoring twice.
Defensively, the Buccaneers played a clean game, committing no errors.
Grinnell fell to 16-12 overall and 4-5 in the conference with the loss.
Games two and three of the series will be played tomorrow at the Ballpark at Strong Stadium first pitch for game one is set for 11 am.
