GRINNELL, Iowa – The Beloit College Buccaneers saw their 2026 season come to a close in a hard-fought, two-day marathon against Monmouth College (Ill.). Despite a powerful offensive showing, the Buccaneers fell 7-6 to the Fighting Scots in a game that required extra time and a change in scenery to complete.
The contest began on Friday, May 8, at Pioneer Park. The teams battled through seven intense innings before fading light forced a suspension due to darkness with the Buccaneers leading 6-4. Play resumed this morning, where a late-inning surge by the Fighting Scots ultimately ended the Buccaneers' campaign with a final record of 23-18.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Beloit's offense ignited in the top of the second. Blake Nelson (Monument, CO.) sparked the rally with a walk, followed by a double from Nolan Tomsyck (Muskego, Wis). Drew Hanson (Edgerton, Wis.) then drove a single up the middle to bring Nelson home for the Buccaneers' first run.
The pressure continued as Parker Krcmar (Waupaca, Wis.) roped an RBI double to right field, scoring Hanson to tie the game. Designated hitter Jack Alport (Arlington Heights, Ill.) then gave Beloit the lead with a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Tomsyck to cross the plate and capping a three-run frame.
The Buccaneers showcased their power in the top of the fourth inning. After Krcmar reached base on a double to right-center, Alport cleared the fences with a towering two-run home run to left field. The blast gave Beloit a 5-3 advantage and marked Alport's third RBI of the day.
Beloit added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Aiden Wood (Chandler, Ariz.) singled and later scored on a clutch RBI double by Tomsyck, extending the lead to 6-3.
Buccaneer starter Will Lyng (Helena, MT) provided a gritty performance on the mound on Friday, pitching 5.2 innings and striking out five while keeping the Scots at bay. However, when play resumed this morning for the final two frames, the momentum shifted.
In the bottom of the eighth, Monmouth capitalized on a leadoff triple and a two-run double to tie the game before a sacrifice fly gave the Scots a 7-6 lead. In the top of the ninth, Beloit refused to go quietly. Hanson singled and Krcmar drew a walk to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Following a pitching change, Jordan Rosenberg (Leawood, KS) singled to load the bases with two outs. Despite the late-game heroics to put the pressure on Monmouth, the Buccaneers were unable to drive the tying run home, ending the game and the season.
The loss marks the end of a competitive year for Beloit. The Buccaneers finished with an overall record of 23-18 and a Midwest Conference Record of 15-6. The Buccaneers appeared in their fourth-straight Midwest Conference Tournament.
