BELOIT, Wis. – In an afternoon defined by late-game heroics and resilient pitching, the Beloit College Buccaneers swept a doubleheader against Lawrence University earlier today. Both contests ended in dramatic fashion, with the Buccaneers (19-16, 11-6 MWC) securing 4-3 victories in both the nine-inning opener and the ten-inning nightcap.
Game 1: Beloit 4, Lawrence 3
The opening game was a masterclass in endurance by Beloit pitcher Ben Schweit (Simi Valley, CA.), who tossed a complete game. Schweit struck out 11 batters over nine innings, keeping the Buccaneers within striking distance even as the Vikings (12-22, 8-8 MWC) held a slim lead for much of the afternoon.
Beloit's offense began to click in the fourth inning when Drew Hanson (Edgerton, Wis.) lined an RBI single to center field, scoring Aiden Wood to put the Bucs on the board. In the fifth, Parker Krcmar (Waupaca, Wis.)—who finished the game 3-for-4—led off with a triple and was driven home by a Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis. sacrifice fly, narrowing the Lawrence lead to 3-2.
The drama peaked in the bottom of the ninth. With two runners on and the game on the line, Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) delivered the defining blow, a two-RBI single that brought home Krcmar and Jack Alport. The walk-off hit secured the 4-3 victory and set the tone for the rest of the day.
Game 2: Beloit 4, Lawrence 3 (10 Innings)
The second game of the day proved even more grueling, requiring ten innings to decide a winner. Beloit showcased their defensive discipline and a "never say die" attitude to overcome an early deficit.
The Buccaneers took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Jacopo Tamburini (Bologna, Italy) used savvy baserunning to score on a passed ball. Lawrence eventually reclaimed the lead, but Beloit answered back in the seventh inning when Nelson notched another RBI, this time via a sacrifice fly to score Krcmar, tying the game at 2-2.
After Lawrence took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Brankey stepped up in the bottom half of the frame, blasting a clutch RBI triple to right field to score Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and force extra innings.
In the bottom of the tenth, Tamburini reached base and advanced to third on a series of Lawrence miscues. Alport, who had moved from center field to the pitcher's mound to earn the win in relief, stepped to the plate and flew out to right field. The sacrifice fly was deep enough to score Tamburini, giving Beloit their second walk-off win of the day.
The Buccaneers and Vikings wrap up the series tomorrow in Appleton. First pitch from Whiting Field is set for 12 pm.
