APPLETON, WI – The Beloit College Buccaneers showcased their resilience and offensive firepower, securing a hard-fought 8-7 victory over Grinnell College in a back-and-forth contest on Friday, in a win-or-go-home game at the 2025 Midwest Conference Tournament. The win boosts Beloit's strong season record to 26-14 overall.
Beloit's offense was a consistent threat throughout the game, amassing 14 hits. Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) was a perfect 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot, scoring two crucial runs and drawing a walk. Elijah Love (Madison, Wis.) also had a standout performance, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a double, and two walks, including the eventual game-winning RBI.
Grinnell struck first in the bottom of the third inning, taking a slim 1-0 lead. However, Beloit's bats came alive in the top of the fourth. Love delivered an RBI single to tie the game, followed by a clutch two-RBI double from Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.), giving Beloit a 3-1 advantage.
The Buccaneers extended their lead in the fifth when Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) launched a two-run homer to center field, scoring Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) (who had singled) and pushing the score to 5-1. Tomsyck himself had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
The Pioneers refused to go quietly, chipping away with a run in the fifth and then exploding for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 5-5.
Beloit immediately responded in the top of the seventh. Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) came through with a pivotal two-run double to left center, plating Wood and Love to put the Buccaneers back on top, 7-5. But the see-saw battle continued as Grinnell's Tashjian hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame, knotting the score once again at 7-7.
The decisive moment came in the top of the eighth. Alport drew a walk, advanced on a walk to Connor Vogel (Palmdale, Calif.), and then scored what would be the winning run on Love's sharp single through the right side, making it 8-7.
On the mound for Beloit, starter Ben Schweit (Simi Valley, CA.) battled for 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits while striking out four. Maddon McArthur (Redondo Beach, Calif.) bridged the gap for 1.2 innings. Harvey Pena (Riverside, Calif.) was superb in relief, tossing 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings to close out the game and earn the win. He efficiently retired all six batters he faced, needing just 16 pitches.
Other notable offensive contributions for Beloit included Wood's two RBIs and Brankey's two RBIs from his home run. The team showed patience at the plate, drawing six walks.
The Bucs survive to play another day and will face the loser of the Lawerance and Monmouth at 10 am tomorrow morning.
