MONMOUTH, Ill. – Despite jumping out to an early lead and mounting a ninth-inning comeback attempt, the Beloit College baseball team couldn't overcome a potent Monmouth (Ill.) offense, falling 10-7 in a road contest at Glasgow Field this afternoon.
The loss drops Beloit's season record to 22-13 overall and 10-7 in MWC play.
Beloit started strong, pushing across a run in the top of the first. Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) singled, advanced on a wild pitch, moved to third on a Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) single, and scored on a Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.) RBI groundout.
The Buccaneers extended their lead in the second inning. Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) drew a walk to open the frame, and Brankey followed by launching a two-run homer to right field, putting Beloit ahead 3-0.
However, Monmouth began chipping away. They got on the board in the third inning and tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth off Beloit starter Aiden Phipps (Simi Valley, Calif.). Phipps battled through 5.0 innings.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when Monmouth broke it open with a four-run rally against the Beloit bullpen. Harvey Pena (Riverside, Calif.) took the loss, allowing two runs in 1.1 innings. Maddon McArthur (Redondo Beach, Calif.) also surrendered two runs in his short relief appearance.
Trailing 7-3, Beloit showed life in the top of the eighth. Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) singled and later scored on an RBI single by Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis), cutting the deficit to 7-4.
Monmouth (16-18, 11-7 MWC) responded immediately and decisively in the bottom of the eighth, plating three more runs off relieverMicah Wilk (Martinez, Calif.), highlighted by a home run, pushing their lead to 10-4.
Facing a six-run deficit in the ninth, Beloit refused to go quietly. Alport singled and Vogel walked to put two runners on. Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.) also drew a walk to load the bases. Wood reached on a fielder's choice combined with a throwing error by the Monmouth shortstop, allowing both Alport and Vogel to score. Ryan Kopp (Pinole, Calif.), pinch-running for Wood, advanced on the play. Miles Souza (Carpinteria, Calif.) then grounded out, driving in Love (unearned) to make it 10-7. However, the rally ended there as Tomsyck grounded out to seal the win for Monmouth.
Offensively for Beloit, Brankey paced the attack, going 2-for-5 with the home run, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Alport (2-for-4, R, BB) and A. Wood (2-for-5, R, RBI) also collected multiple hits. Vogel (RBI, R, 2 BB), Souza (2B, RBI), and Tomsyck (RBI) drove in the other runs for the Buccaneers. Love drew two walks and scored a run.
The Buccaneers head to Galesburg, Illinois on Wednesday to close out their season series agaisnt the Prairie Fire. First pitch from Blodgett Field is set for 1 pm.
