JACKSONVILLE, IL – In a game defined by grit and late-inning heroics, the Beloit College Buccaneers (8-11, 1-2 MWC) overcame a six-run deficit to defeat Illinois College (11-10, 2-1 MWC) with an 11-9 victory this afternoon at Joe Brooks Field.
The Buccaneers showcased a high-powered offense, racking up 14 hits and capitalizing on Illinois College's defensive miscues to claw their way back from a 9-3 hole in the final three frames.
Beloit struck first in the top of the opening inning. After Parker Krcmar (Waupaca, Wis.) singled and moved to third on an error, Jacopo "JT" Tamburini (Bologna, Italy) drove him home with a sharp RBI single to right field.
Illinois College took a 4-1 lead in the second, but Beloit's Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) began his standout day shortly after. In the third, Brankey doubled to left-center to score Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.). Two innings later, Brankey turned on a 3-1 pitch for a solo home run to right field, narrowing the gap to 4-3.
The momentum appeared to swing decisively toward the Blueboys in the bottom of the sixth when Illinois College exploded for five runs, including a three-run homer, to take a commanding 9-3 lead.
However, the Buccaneers refused to fold. In a chaotic top of the seventh, Beloit sent ten batters to the plate to score six runs and tie the game. After Krcmar laced a double to left center, Brankey reached on an error by the center fielder that allowed Krcmar to score. Blake Nelson singled to center to put runners on the corners. Brankey scored when Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) reached on an error by the shortstop. Jordan Rosenberg (Leawood, KS) then lined an RBI single to score Nelson. Roan Schmidt (Simi Valley, Calif.) came up big, delivering the biggest blow of the inning—a clutch two-run double to left field. The Bucs final run of the inning came off the bat of pinch-hitter Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) who capped the rally with an RBI single to center, knotting the game at 9-9.
With the game tied in the top of the ninth, Tamburini provided the eventual game-winning run by launching a solo home run on the first pitch he saw. The Buccaneers added an insurance run when Brody Bremer (Mesa, Ariz.) singled to right field, scoring Tomsyck to make it 11-9.
While the bats provided the fireworks, the Beloit pitching staff tightened up when it mattered most. Alport, who started the game in center field, shifted to the mound for the final two innings. Alport was dominant, allowing only one hit and zero runs to earn the win (1-1). Collin Wright (Longmont, CO.) also provided a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh to help bridge the gap.
The Buccaneers are back in action of Friday and Saturday when they host Monmouth College for their first home MWC series of the season. Friday's doubleheader is set to start at 1 pm with the series finale set for Saturday at 1 pm.
