BELOIT, Wis. – Despite a powerful three-run homer from Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.) and a late offensive push, the Beloit College baseball team couldn't overcome an early deficit, falling 9-5 to Edgewood College on Tuesday evening at ABC Supply Stadium.
The loss drops the Buccaneers' record to 13-9 (3-3 MWC). Edgewood improved to 10-12 (5-5 NACC).
Edgewood struck first and fast, plating two runs in the top of the first inning against Beloit starter Caleb Lasher (Albuquerque, N.M.). They added two more in the second, highlighted by RBI hits from Terry Tolliver Jr. and Dominic Lee, quickly putting the Buccaneers in a 4-0 hole.
Beloit's bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) singled and Jacopo "JT" Tamburini (Bologna, Italy) reached base, Love stepped up and crushed a home run to left center field. The three-run blast instantly cut the Edgewood lead to 4-3, bringing the home dugout and fans to life.
However, the Eagles responded, adding single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, and pushing across two more in the seventh, aided partly by a Beloit error – one of two committed by the Buccaneers defense on the night.
Trailing 9-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Beloit mounted another rally. Brody Bremer (Mesa, Ariz.) drew a walk and advanced on a wild pitch. Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) singled, and both runners moved up on another wild pitch. Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) then delivered a clutch single up the middle, driving in both Brankey and Bremer to pull Beloit within four runs at 9-5.
That would be the end of the scoring for the Buccaneers, however. Edgewood reliever Mark Tor shut down Beloit over the final two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one.
Lasher took the loss for Beloit, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks over 2.0 innings. The bullpen saw action from Micah Wilk (Martinez, Calif.), Collin Wright (Longmont, CO.), Miles Souza (Carpinteria, Calif.), and Alport. Souza and Alport provided bright spots on the mound, each pitching a perfect inning of relief with strikeouts.
Edgewood starter Kris Hahn earned the win, pitching 7.0 innings and allowing five earned runs on eight hits while striking out nine Beloit batters.
The Buccaneers were outhit 14-9 in the contest and stranded six runners on base, compared to Edgewood's nine.
Beloit looks to avenge an early season loss tomorrow evening when they host the Regents of Rockford University. First pitch from ABC Supply Stadium is set for 6 pm.
