Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire came from behind to win both games of a doubleheader against Monmouth College on Saturday at Blodgett Field.
Knox rallied from a three run deficit to take the opener 5-4 followed by a 4-3 victory after trailing by two runs in the finale.
The Prairie Fire turned a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning of the first game.
The first four Knox hitters reached base in the eighth. Junior Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) and senior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) walked, and junior Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior Ryan Hoffman (Sugar Grove, IL, Marmion Academy) walked for an RBI to cut the Fighting Scots' lead to 4-3. Senior Matt Lee (Fullerton, CA, Servite) grounded out, scoring White, to tie the game at 4-4. Senior Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) put the Prairie Fire on top 5-4 when he singled and Smoy crossed the plate.
The Prairie Fire staked to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI ground out by White that scored senior Michael Schroeder (Glenview, IL, Glenbrook South).
Monmouth came back with four runs in the fourth inning with the help of four singles and a batter hit by a pitch to lead 4-1.
Knox cut the Scots' lead in half at 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by junior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) that scored first-year Mitch Weissenhofer (Homewood, IL, Marian Catholic).
The Prairie Fire bullpen shut down the Monmouth offense after the fourth frame. First-year Jeremy Gogoel (Hampshire, IL, Hampshire), senior Gabe Ayers (Hanna City, IL, Farmington), and junior Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) combined for five scoreless innings and allowed three hits, two walks and struck out three.
Sophomore starter Nathaniel Grady (Antelope, CA, Oakmont) gave up four earned runs and six hits in four innings on the mound for Knox. He walked three and struck out two in the no decision.
Ayers (3-0) earned the win and Armstrong picked up his sixth save of the season.
Walenga and Schroeder had two hits each for the Prairie Fire.
A three run sixth inning was the difference for the hosts in the nightcap.
Trailing 2-1 with one out, Knox rolled off consecutive singles by White, Weaver, Smoy, and Hoffman. Smoy's hit scored White to tie the game at 2-2 while Hoffman drove in Weaver for a 3-2 lead. The Fire doubled the lead at 4-2 on an RBI single by Walenga with two outs.
Monmouth (5-19, 1-5 MWC South) plated a run in the eighth inning to trim the deficit to 4-3. Weissenhofer delivered two key outs on the hill in relief of junior starter Paul Mills (Moline, IL, Moline). The Scots had a runner on second with one out when Weissenhofer struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
The Fighting Scots jumped on top with a run in the first inning and scored again in the third for a 2-0 lead. Mills settled down, retiring 10 straight at one point between the fourth and seventh innings.
Knox (14-8, 7-3 MWC South) cut the Monmouth lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when White scored on a passed ball.
Mills (3-1) won his third straight start. He surrendered three runs, two of them earned, seven hits, and one walk while striking out six in 7 1/3 innings. Armstrong closed the door in the ninth inning to record his seventh save.
Smoy, Hoffman, and Walenga each had two hits and an RBI for the Prairie Fire. White added two hits and two runs while Weaver had two hits and scored once.
Knox owns eight straight wins against Monmouth dating back to the 2011 season and is in sole possession of first place in the Midwest Conference South Division.