Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Grinnell, IA – The Prairie Fire suffered a pair of one-run setbacks in a Midwest Conference South doubleheader at Grinnell College on Saturday.

The Prairie Fire overcame a three-run deficit in the opener before falling to the Pioneers 6-5 in 10 innings.  Grinnell followed with a 3-2 win in the nightcap to sweep the twinbill.

Knox trailed 3-0 in the first game when the comeback bid began with two runs in the top of the seventh. 

Sophomore Austin Bevenue (Millstadt, IL, Belleville Althoff) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring first-year Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island) with the first run.  Senior Paul Mills (Moline, IL, Moline) drew a bases-loaded walk that brought home first-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) and cut the deficit to 3-2.

Knox came all the way back and tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the ninth inning.  Junior Michael Bohnhoff (Omaha, NE, Mt. Michael Benedictine) was called on to pinch hit with two outs and a runner at second base.  Bohnhoff delivered a double that brought home senior Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) with the tying run.

The Prairie Fire took their first lead of the game, 5-3, with two runs in the top of the 10th.

Smoy singled home a run with the bases loaded and Weitendorf hit a sacrifice fly that scored senior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South).

A two-run single with two outs by Grinnell tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the 10th.  The Pioneers won it on a run-scoring single through the right side
of the infield.

Grinnell (14-14, 7-3 MWC South) held a 14-6 edge in total hits.  Smoy led Knox with two hits and a run batted in.

Senior Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, lL, Hinsdale Central) was charged with the loss.  Marquardt (3-4) entered the game in the bottom of the 10th win one out and runners on second and third.  He gave up one run on two hits with one strikeout in 1/3 inning of work.

The Prairie Fire had to play from behind again in the second game after the Pioneers scored two runs in the bottom of the bottom of the first inning.

Knox (13-15, 2-8 MWC South) answered with two runs in the top of the fourth to even the score, 2-2.

The first four Prairie Fire batters reached.  Smoy singled, Weitendorf doubled Smoy to third base, and sophomore Drew Osborn (Moline, IL, Moline) reached on an error that scored Smoy and cut the deficit to 2-1.  A walk to Bevenue loaded the bases for first-year Alex Bell (Elgin, IL, Burlington Central), who hit into a fielder's choice that scored Weitendorf with the tying run.

Knox was unable to add any more runs in the inning.

The Pioneers reclaimed the lead at 3-2 with a sacrifice fly RBI in the bottom of the fifth.

The Prairie Fire managed only two base runners after the fourth inning against Grinnell hurler Sam Tinkham.  He scattered four hits in a complete game win, striking out four and walking four.

Smoy was 2-for-4 in the game and Bevenue drew three walks to lead the offense.

Junior Ryder Borre (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) pitched well but was saddled with the loss.  Borre (3-2) allowed three runs and 12 hits over7 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Knox and Grinnell were scheduled to play another doubleheader on Sunday, April 27 at Blodgett Field.  The games have been postponed because of expected inclement weather and rescheduled on Wednesday, May 1.  The game times will be announced soon.