Game Five – Beloit 7, Grinnell 6 l [Box Score]
The second elimination game was the most exciting of the tournament so far between Beloit and Grinnell as the Buccaneers pulled out a 7-6 walk off win to move to the first championship game. Grinnell scored three in the top of the ninth to tie it but Beloit bounced back with a two out single to plate a run and win in exciting fashion.
The Buccaneers drew first blood on the Pioneers in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs. Will Mack, Al Loth and Sean Little all singled to start the inning to load the bases before Jordan Jaenicke drove in the first run of the game with a fielder’s choice groundout to second base. Loth scored the very next batter on a sacrifice fly by Evan Mascitti to close out the scoring in the inning.
Beloit added to the lead in the fourth inning with three more runs. With two outs Jerrick Habecker singled to start the rally and was followed by a Mack single to put runners at first and second. Loth then followed up with a RBI single and Little doubled to deep left centerfield to score both Mack and Loth and push the Beloit lead to 5-0.
Grinnell got onto the scoreboard in the fifth inning with a single run to cut the deficit to four. Three straight hits started off with a double from Colin Tremblay and followed by singles from Drew Davis and J.R. Dowrick, the latter of the hits scoring Tremblay. Much like Beloit in the inning before all the damage in the inning was done with two outs.
The sixth inning brought more of the same for Grinnell as they scored a pair of runs on five hits. It all started with a double from Mike Nodzenski who would then score on a Ronnie Gray single back up the middle. Three batters late Trembley continued his solid play by singling home Gray and keeping the bases loaded with one out. Primed and ready to possibly tie the game Bucs starter Andrew Edwards induced an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to preserve the Beloit lead.
Up by two in the eighth inning Beloit tacked on an insurance run on back-to-back doubles by Jennings and Tresemer.
The Pioneers were down to their final out down by three runs and responded in a big way with four straight hits that was consummated by a Goldfien triple to score Yuki Kawahara who was pinch running for Nodzenski after he singled to centerfield.
The Bucs answered right back and ended the game with a walk off single with two outs. Loth started the inning by getting walked and then moved to second on a groundout and got to third on a single by Jaenicke. After an intentional walk to Mascitti and a lineout by Jennings the Bucs got a single through the left side by Tresemer to propel the Bucs in the tournament.
Beloit had 13 hits on the game led by Loth who was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with a pair of runs scored while Jaenicke, Tresemer and Mack each picked up a pair of hits. Edwards earned a no decision going eight innings yielding three runs and ten hits while Loth picked up the victory despite blowing the save opportunity in the ninth inning.
Ben Pope took the loss in relief for Grinnell giving up a pair of hits and one run in 1.1 innings. Jason Ormond pitched 3.1 innings in relief and only gave up three hits and a run while striking out three. Colin Tremblay led the Pioneers offense that collected 14 hits as he went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI. J.R. Dowrick, Nodzenski and Goldfien all collected two hits each in the loss.
Beloit now will face St. Norbert in the first championship game set for 1:00 p.m. Because of the double-elimination format of the tournament St. Norbert needs only one win to claim a MWC Championship while Beloit would need two more wins to hoist the trophy.