MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Powered by a relentless 16-hit attack and three home runs, the Beloit College Buccaneers (23-16, 15-6 MWC) secured a hard-fought 13-10 victory over Cornell College this afternoon at Ash Park Field.
The Beloit offense was firing on all cylinders from the start, posting four-run frames in both the second and fourth innings to build an early lead. The Buccaneers displayed a perfect blend of "small ball" and raw power, keeping the Rams' pitching staff under constant pressure.
Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) was the catalyst at the top of the lineup. The center fielder put together a masterful performance, going 4-for-6 with three runs scored, two RBI, and three stolen bases. His speed and ability to reach base set the tone for the entire afternoon.
The Buccaneers' power surge was led by three different players who cleared the fences. Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis) sparked the power display with a solo home run to center field in the third inning. He finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Parker Krcmar (Waupaca, Wis.) added to the tally in the fifth with a towering solo shot to left field. Roan Schmidt (Simi Valley, Calif.)provided a massive insurance blow in the sixth, crushing a two-run home run to left that scored Jordan Rosenberg and extended the Beloit lead to 12-6.
Beloit's ability to string together hits proved to be the difference maker. After a scoreless first, Jacopo Tamburini (Bologna, Italy) broke the ice with an RBI single in the second. Alport followed with a run-scoring knock of his own, and Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) (3-for-5 on the day) capped the four-run rally with a clutch two-RBI single to left. Leading 5-2, the Bucs exploded again in the fourth. Alport singled home Tamburini, followed by a bases-clearing two-RBI single from Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.). Tomsyck capped the inning with an RBI single to center, pushing the lead to 9-2. The final blow came in the 7th when Wood reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Alport for the Buccaneers' 13th and final run, which proved vital as the Rams (17-21, 9-12 MWC) attempted a late-inning comeback.
Bryce Lermer (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) earned the win (5-2), providing much-needed relief in the middle innings. However, the unsung hero of the mound was Sutton Bassett (Carlsbad, Calif), who silenced the Rams' bats during the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. Bassett was dominant, surrendering zero hits and zero runs over three full innings of work to bridge the gap to the finale.
In the 9th, after Cornell narrowed the gap to 13-10, Ryan Apel (Mequon, Wis.) was called upon to shut the door. Apel induced a flyout to center field to end the threat, securing his first save of the season and clinching the win for Beloit.
The Buccaneers carry a seven game winning streak into the Midwest Conference tournament next weekend. The Buccaneers begin their title defense on Friday, May 8th at 9 am. They will face Illinois College at Newton High School in Newton, Iowa. For the complete tournament schedule, click here.
