BELOIT, Wis. – The Beloit College Buccaneers baseball team delivered a powerful performance at home this afternoon, securing a convincing doubleheader sweep against Knox College. The Buccaneers showcased potent offense and solid pitching in both contests, winning the first game 13-3 and taking the nightcap 9-2.
Game 1: Beloit 13, Knox 3 (7 Innings)
Game one looked like it was going to be an offensive slugfest in the first two innings. Both teams plated two runs in the first inning before the Buccaneers (20-11, 8-5 MWC) took the reigns.
Beloit added single runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings, featuring an RBI single from Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.) in the third and a sacrifice fly RBI from Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) in the sixth.
The game was blown wide open in the bottom of the seventh inning when Beloit's offense exploded for eight runs. The rally included key hits like a two-RBI double by Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.), a two-RBI home run by Miles Souza (Carpinteria, Calif.), an RBI single from Tomsyck, and a two-RBI triple smashed by Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.).
Brankey had a stellar game, going 3-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) was also a catalyst, scoring three runs, hitting two doubles, and stealing two bases. Wood drove in three runs, Souza had two RBIs on his homer, and Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.) contributed two doubles and two runs scored.
Aiden Phipps (Simi Valley, Calif.) earned the win (4-3) for Beloit, tossing six solid innings, allowing eight hits while striking out four. Harvey Pena (Riverside, Calif.) shut the door in the seventh for his seventh save of the season.
Game 2: Beloit 9, Knox 2
The momentum carried straight into the second game for the Buccaneers. Beloit put up a four-spot in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Wood, an RBI single from Souza, an RBI double from Love, and a two-RBI single from Tomsyck.
Knox (14-16, 6-8 MWC) managed two runs in the top of the third, but Beloit immediately responded with three more runs in the bottom half. Love plated a run with a single, Jordan Rosenberg (Leawood, KS) drove one in with a single, and Brankey added another RBI single.
Beloit added insurance runs in the fourth on a passed ball and in the sixth via an RBI flyout from Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.).
Wood continued his productive day, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Souza reached base four times (one hit, three walks), scoring twice and driving in a run. Love went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Starter Erick Tiegs (Waukesha, Wis.) pitched the first four innings for Beloit, allowing two runs on six hits. Ben Schweit (Simi Valley, CA.) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two. Pena, Maddon McArthur (Redondo Beach, Calif.), and Alport combined to pitch four scoreless innings out of the bullpen to seal the victory.
This series will be put on pause and conclude on April 30th in Galesburg. In the meantime. the Buccaneers head to Monmouth, Illinois for a three game series against the Fighting Scots. Game one from Glasglow Field is set for 12 pm on Saturday, April 26th.
