St. Norbert Opens MWC Play With Sweep of Beloit

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, April 13, 2018 | Baseball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GALESBURG, Ill. - St. Norbert College began Midwest Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Beloit College by scores of 12-8 and 4-3 at Knox College's Blodgett Field.

The Green Knights (13-5, 2-0 MWC North) have now won 11 of their last 13 games.

St. Norbert jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings in the opener. Sean Ferraro started a big day with a solo home run in the first inning, followed by a run-scoring double by Sean Grant and a two-run single by Jason Malkowski for a 4-0 lead after one frame. Ferraro then cranked a two-run home run in the second inning and Griffin Jack had an RBI single later in the inning.

Beloit countered with two runs in the top of the third, but the Green Knights got the runs back in their half of the inning with another two-run home run by Ferraro for a 9-2 edge. Ferraro became the just the third player in St. Norbert history to hit at least three home runs in a game, with Nick Olsen posting games with four and three home runs and Jared Yost totaling a three-homer game.

The Buccaneers mounted a rally with a six-run sixth inning to cut their deficit to 9-8. St. Norbert got some valuable insurance runs in the seventh inning with a Jason Malkowski solo home run and a two-run double by Hunter Larson.

St. Norbert had 15 hits in the opener, with Ferraro going 4-for-5 with five RBi and three runs scored. Larson was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Malkowski was 2-for-5 with three RBI. Jack and Jack Maastricht also had two hits apiece.

Carson Jacques earned the win, allowing seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Nick Klavekoske picked up the save with 3 2/3 innings pitched, allowing two hits with four strikeouts.

In a well-played nightcap, St. Norbert snapped a 3-3 tie with a single run in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs, Andy Peterik walked and stole second. Ferraro singled to move Peterik to third. Larson followed with a run-scoring single to put the Green Knights ahead 4-3.

Ferraro led off the bottom of the first with a double and moved up to third on a ground out. Ferraro then scored on a Tyler Banovich groundout. Beloit then scored three runs in the top of the third inning for a 3-1 edge. St. Norbert countered Jacob Raeder scored on a single and an error in the fifth inning. Jack then hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning to square the game 3-3.

Ferraro was 3-for-5 in the second game to finish the doubleheader a lusty 7-for-10. Jack was 2-for-3 for St. Norbert, which had 10 hits.

Riley Lynch earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of relief, striking out two while allowing one hit. Klavekoske picked up another save with a scoreless ninth innning.