MONMOUTH, IL – The Beloit College baseball team showcased resilience and offensive firepower, splitting a doubleheader against Monmouth College this afternoon. After a frustrating 3-2 loss decided by unearned runs in the opener, the Buccaneers stormed back with a dominant 16-6 victory in the second game. The split moved Beloit's season record to 22-12 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
Game 1: Monmouth (Ill.) 3, Beloit 2
The first game was a tightly contested pitcher's duel marred by defensive miscues for the Buccaneers. Beloit struck first in the top of the first inning. Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) singled and advanced on Jack Alport's (Arlington Heights, Ill.) single. A throwing error by the Monmouth shortstop on a fielder's choice off the bat of Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) allowed Brankey to score, giving Beloit an early 1-0 lead.
Ben Schweit (Simi Valley, CA.) was effective on the mound for the Bucs, holding Monmouth scoreless through five innings. However, the Fighting Scots capitalized on Beloit errors to plate two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth and another unearned run in the eighth, taking a 3-1 lead.
The Buccaneers attempted a late rally in the ninth. Alport launched a solo home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, Monmouth reliever Owen Wolfe shut the door to secure the save.
Despite the loss, Schweit delivered a strong performance, pitching a complete game (8.0 innings) and allowing seven hits and three runs, none of which were earned. He walked three and struck out an impressive ten batters. Alport (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R) and Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.) (2-for-5, 2B) led the Beloit offense, which tallied eight hits but left ten runners stranded.
Game 2: Beloit 16, Monmouth (Ill.) 6
Beloit's bats woke up in a major way in the nightcap, pounding out 15 hits en route to a convincing 16-6 win. The offense provided plenty of support for the pitching staff throughout the game.
The scoring started in the second when Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) singled home Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.). Alport added a solo home run in the third inning. The floodgates opened in the fourth inning as Beloit plated five runs. Jordan Rosenberg (Leawood, KS) delivered a key pinch-hit single, driving in two runs. Alport followed with an RBI double, and Vogel capped the inning with a two-run homer to left center, pushing the lead to 7-1.
Beloit wasn't done, exploding for another five runs in the sixth. Vogel crushed his second home run of the game, another two-run shot. Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) contributed a sacrifice fly RBI, and Nelson ripped a two-run double down the right field line, making the score 12-1.
Further runs came via another Tomsyck sacrifice fly in the seventh, an RBI single from Alport and another from Vogel in the eighth, and an unearned run in the ninth
Eamon Burke (Helena, Mont.) started for Beloit, going 3.0 innings and allowing only one unearned run on two hits while striking out three. Erick Tiegs (Waukesha, Wis.) (2-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 3.0 innings and allowing just one unearned run on three hits with five strikeouts. Harvey Pena (Riverside, Calif.) and Caleb Lasher (Albuquerque, N.M.) finished the game on the mound.
With Illinois College and Lawrence University splitting their doubleheader today, the Buccaneers remain atop the MWC standings heading into tomorrow's series finale. First pitch is set for noon.
