Green Knights Sweep MWC Series From Beloit

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, April 17, 2018 | Baseball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

MONMOUTH, Ill. - St. Norbert College took command of the Midwest Conference North Division baseball race with a doubleheader sweep of Beloit College by scores of 8-3 and 10-8 at Monmouth College's Glasgow Field.

The Green Knights (15-5, 4-0 MWC North) swept the four-game series from the Buccaneers (11-11, 0-4) in a matchup of teams who met for the Midwest Conference championship last season.

St. Norbert took advantage early in the opener, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after two innings. Griffin Jack had a two-run single in the first inning to give the Green Knights a 2-0 lead. St. Norbert then parlayed five consecutive walks followed by a base hit into the three runs in the second inning. Tyler Banovich and Sean Grant drew bases-loaded free passes to each force in a run, while Jack followed with a run-scoring single.

Jacob Raeder had an RBI single in the fifth inning and the Green Knights added an unearned run in the sixth inning to build a 7-0 lead. Robbie Dombrowski lifted a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning for St. Norbert's final run. The Buccaneers scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the ninth inning to close out the scoring.

Riley Lynch worked eight innings to improve to 4-1 for St. Norbert, allowing just two hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

Hunter Larson was 2-for-2 with a double and three runs scored. Jason Malkowski was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Jack was 2-for-5 with three RBI.

In the nightcap, the Green Knights were outhit 15-7 but still ground their way to victory.

Beloit scored a run in the second inning and held a 1-0 advantage after three frames. St. Norbert took the lead with five runs on just two hits in the top of the fourth inning. Raeder had a two-run single, followed by a run-scoring groundout by Dombrowski. Raeder then scored on a balk and Andy Peterik added an RBI single.

St. Norbert scored three runs on two hits aided by two Beloit errors in the sixth inning for an 8-3 lead. The Buccaneers responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to get to within 8-6. Beloit then tied the game 8-8 with two runs on three hits in the seventh.

The Green Knights took the lead in the top of the eighth inning when Banovich laced a two-run single.

Raeder and Banovich were both 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Carson Jacques earned the win in relief with 2 2/3 innings pitched, allowing five hits with two strikeouts.