BELOIT, WI – It was a banner day at Strong Stadium for the Beloit College Buccaneers, as they secured a gritty doubleheader sweep over conference rival Ripon College on Saturday. Behind a masterclass in pitching in the opener and a breathtaking ninth-inning comeback in the nightcap, the Buccaneers moved to 13-12 on the season and 6-3 in conference play.
Game 1: Beloit 3, Ripon 1
The first contest of the day was a clinic in defensive efficiency and starting pitching. Ben Schweit (Simi Valley, CA.) took the mound and never left, tossing a magnificent 9.0-inning complete game. Schweit allowed only one run on eight hits, striking out four and keeping the Ripon bats silenced for the majority of the afternoon.
The Buccaneers' offense provided the necessary support in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) singled and Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) doubled to put runners in scoring position, Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) delivered the biggest hit of the game—a towering two-run double to center field that gave Beloit a 2-0 lead.
Ripon attempted a late surge with a solo home run in the eighth, but Beloit answered immediately. In the bottom of the eighth, Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) crushed a sacrifice fly to right field, driving in Alport to restore a two-run cushion. Schweit returned for the ninth to shut the door, securing the 3-1 victory.
Game 2: Beloit 10, Ripon 9
While the first game was a pitcher's duel, the second was a high-scoring marathon that tested the Buccaneers' resolve. Ripon jumped out to an early 9-2 lead by the fourth inning, but Beloit refused to blink.
The comeback began in earnest during the fifth inning. Jacopo Tamburini (Bologna, Italy) sparked the rally with an RBI sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI double from Tomsyck. Moments later, pinch-hitter Jordan Rosenberg (Leawood, KS)singled to left, driving in Tomsyck to cut the deficit to 9-5.
In the sixth, Wood (who finished 2-for-2 with three walks) singled up the middle to drive in Alport. The momentum reached a fever pitch in the seventh when Alport laced a two-run single, bringing Beloit within one run (9-8).
The Buccaneers turned to Erick Tiegs (Waukesha, Wis.) out of the bullpen in the seventh, and he provided the stability the team needed. Tiegs was untouchable, throwing three perfect innings of relief to set the stage for the dramatic finale.
In the bottom of the ninth, with the game on the line, the Buccaneers loaded the bases. Parker Krcmar (Waupaca, Wis.) stayed disciplined, dropping a suicide squeeze that drove in Brody Bremer (Mesa, Ariz.) to tie the game at 9-9. With the winning run at third, Josh Beserra (Altadena, Calif.) stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter. Beserra grounded into a fielder's choice, but it was enough to beat the throw as Alport slid across home plate to seal the 10-9 walk-off win.
The Buccaneers and Red Hawks close out the series tomorrow at noon at Ripon.
