APPLETON, Wis. – The Beloit College baseball team showcased its offensive might and received a stellar pitching performance in relief to secure a convincing 11-4 victory over Monmouth (Ill.) on Saturday at Don Hawkins Field to secure Beloit's third straight MWC Tournament Title. The win improves Beloit's impressive season record to 29-15.
Monmouth (Ill.) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, Beloit's bats were quick to answer. In the bottom half of the frame, Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) scored on a balk, and Miles Souza (Carpinteria, Calif.) brought home Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) with a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
After Monmouth extended their lead to 4-2 in the top of the third with a solo home run, Beloit's offense truly came alive in the bottom of the inning. The Buccaneers erupted for five runs to seize control of the game. RJ Pouzar (Hartford, Wis.) delivered a clutch two-RBI single, plating Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.) and Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.) to tie the game. Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) then singled to drive in Souza, giving Beloit a 5-4 lead. Riley Ponio (Morris, Ill.) followed with an RBI single of his own, and Alport later scored on an error, capping the five-run outburst and putting Beloit ahead 7-4.
From there, Beloit and pitcher Ben Schweit (Simi Valley, CA.) never looked back. Schweit, who entered in the second inning, was masterful over eight innings of relief. He allowed just one earned run on four hits, issued no walks, and struck out seven batters, effectively shutting down the Monmouth offense.
Beloit's offense continued to add insurance runs. In the fourth inning, Nelson delivered a two-RBI single, scoring Souza and Love, both unearned, to push the lead to 9-4. Vogel singled in Ponio in the seventh for a 10-4 advantage, and Ponio capped the scoring in the eighth with an RBI single that brought home Pouzar, making it 11-4.
The Beloit lineup was potent throughout, amassing 17 hits. Ponio led the charge, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Nelson was a key run-producer, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. Pouzar had a productive day, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Souza also contributed significantly, scoring twice and driving in a run, while Vogel added two hits, an RBI, and a run. Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) also had a multi-hit game, going 3-for-5.
The Buccaneers earn the automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Regionals with the tournament win, they will find out where they are headed on Monday and 12 pm ET. A link can be found on the home page of the NCAA website.
