AMELIA, Ohio – The Earlham College baseball team won its 11th consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) midweek game with an 8-7 triumph over Mount St. Joseph University (MSJ) on Tuesday evening.

The Quakers' offense did not wait long to ignite as Earlham struck for five runs on five hits in the top of the first inning. Senior Eric Elkus and sophomore Addison Robertson delivered RBI-singles while senior Nate Lynch drew a bases loaded walk along with an MSJ error accounted for the Quakers' runs.

Robertson added a second RBI-hit in the second to put the Quakers' up 6-0, but the Lions answered with a seven-run, six-hit second inning fueled by a grand slam from Matt Hoffman to tie the game 6-6.

Neither teams scored for two innings, but senior Nate Lynch gave Earlham the lead with a single to center field scoring junior Kendal Baker. After a Lynch steal, senior Matt Barger doubles home Lynch to give the Quakers a two-run lead.

The Lions got the game within a single run at 8-7 on an RBI-single in the sixth, but Earlham's bullpen shutout MSJ's offense to earn the win.

Freshman Kyle Gorman earned his third win of the season, allowing six earned runs and striking out four batters in five innings of work. Senior Howie Smith tallied five strikeouts in two inning of relief while freshman Spencer Owen earned his first collegiate save shutting down the Lions in the ninth.

Earlham had 14 hits as a team including three from Lynch, who also stole three bases and drove in two runs. Barger, Elkus, Robertson, and senior Cody Krumlauf all had two hits. MSJ had 12 hits including Hoffman's grand slam.

The Quakers (15-10, 10-6 HCAC) pivot from conference play for a non-conference contest at Wabash College tomorrow (Wednesday).