NEWTON, IA – In a high-stakes matchup in the MWC Tournament opener this morning, the Beloit College Buccaneers (23-17, 15-6 MWC) showcased significant offensive power but ultimately fell to Illinois College in an 11-7 thriller. Despite out-hitting the Blueboys (25-16, 15-6 MWC) for much of the game and launching two home runs, a late five-run surge by Illinois College in the eighth inning proved to be the difference.
Beloit wasted no time establishing an early lead. After a scoreless first, the Buccaneer offense exploded in the top of the second inning. Drew Hanson (Edgerton, Wis.) sparked the rally with a walk, setting the stage for Jacopo Tamburini (Bologna, Italy), who crushed a two-run home run to right field to put Beloit on the board. The momentum continued as Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) doubled down the left-field line and was promptly driven home by a Seth Brankey (Salem, Wis.) RBI double, giving the Buccaneers a commanding 3-0 lead.
After Illinois College tied the game in the third, Beloit responded immediately in the top of the fourth. Hanson led off the inning by tattooing a solo home run to right-center, reclaiming a 4-3 lead. The Buccaneers weren't finished; Alport and Parker Krcmar (Waupaca, Wis.) both reached after being hit by pitches, allowing Brankey to drive in another run with a single to left-center. Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) followed suit with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Brankey and extending the Beloit advantage to 6-3.
The contest turned into a see-saw affair as Illinois College clawed back to tie the game 6-6 by the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth, Beloit showed their grit. Brankey drew a walk and utilized his speed to steal both second and third base. With the pressure on, pinch-hitter Kaden Gustafson (Ross, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Brankey to cross the plate, giving Beloit a 7-6 lead heading into the final frames.
However, the lead was short-lived, as Illinois College capitalized on a string of hits in the bottom of the eighth to score five runs, sealing the 11-7 victory.
The Buccaneers will face Monmouth College in a win-or-go-home game that is set to start at 4 pm this afternoon. That game will be played on the campus of Grinnell College at Pioneer Park.
