Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire concluded a doubleheader sweep of Beloit College in walk-off fashion on Saturday at Blodgett Field.
Knox defeated the Buccaneers 16-9 in the first game before coming from behind to win the finale 6-5 on a single by senior Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The games were originally scheduled to be played at Beloit but were moved to Blodgett Field because of issues with the Buccaneers' field following inclement weather.
The Prairie Fire scored seven runs in the second inning after plating one in the first on a single by senior Ryan Hoffman (Sugar Grove, IL, Marmion Academy) for an early 8-0 lead in the opening contest.
Senior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) and Hoffman drove in two runs apiece with doubles in the second while Walenga also had an RBI double in the inning.
The Buccaneers closed the gap to 9-6 with three runs in the third off of Knox sophomore starting pitcher Nathaniel Grady (Antelope, CA, Oakmont) and three more in the sixth after junior Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton) relieved Grady, who was charged with the runs.
The Prairie Fire answered with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their advantage to 12-6. Junior Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) and Hoffman singled to drive in the first two runs of the inning. Walenga scored Smoy on a groundout to second base to give Knox the six run edge.
The Prairie Fire built the lead to 16-6 with a four run seventh to put the game out of reach. The big blow was a three-run homer by Smoy, who led Knox with four hits and five RBIs.
Hoffman also had a big game at the plate for the Fire with three hits and four runs batted in. Weaver contributed three hits and two RBIs while junior Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) had three hits, drove in a run, and scored four times.
Grady (1-1) picked up the win. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs, eight hits, two walks and struck out two.
Knox swept Beloit (3-7) after rallying for four runs in the ninth inning of game two.
Trailing 5-2, the Prairie Fire (6-4) tied the game at 5-5 on an RBI by White, a wild pitch that scored junior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South), and a run scoring single by Weaver. Knox won it on a walk-off single by Walenga with the sacks packed and one out.
Smoy had three more hits and Weaver belted two to go with three RBIs for the Prairie Fire. Hoffman and Walenga also had a pair of hits for Knox, which won for the third straight time.
Junior Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) pitched three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. Armstrong (2-0) allowed just two hits and struck out three.
Senior Ryan Stoens (Bartonville, IL, Limestone) threw two innings of shutout relief ahead of Armstrong. Junior Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, lL, Hinsdale Central) started the game on the mound for the Prairie Fire. Beloit scored five runs; four earned, and had seven hits off of Marquardt, who struck out three in four innings of work.