Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Monmouth, Ill. – The Prairie Fire got back on track with a Midwest Conference South Division win at Monmouth College on Saturday.

The Prairie Fire came from behind to defeat the Fighting Scots 9-4 in the first game of the doubleheader, which featured a new single-season Knox baseball record.  The win was the 11th straight for Knox over Monmouth.

Senior Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) had two hits – including a double – and four RBIs in the opener for the Fire.  That increased his season total to 45 runs batted in, breaking the previous all-time mark of 41.

The Scots raced out to a 4-0 lead with one run in the first inning and three more in the second.

The Prairie Fire got on the board in the third frame when Smoy hit a ground ball that scored junior Michael Bohnhoff (Omaha, NE, Mt. Michael Benedictine) from third base and set the new RBI record.

Knox grabbed a 5-4 lead thanks to a four-run fifth inning.  Smoy belted a two-run double to trim the deficit to one, followed by a balk that scored first-year Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island) and tied the game.  Sophomore Austin Bevenue (Millstadt, IL, Belleville Althoff) put the Prairie Fire on top for good with an RBI single that scored Smoy.

Knox stretched its lead to 7-4 with two more runs in the sixth.  Smoy drove in his fourth run of the game on a ground ball out, and senior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) crossed the plate on an error.

Meanwhile, senior hurlers Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton) and Dustin Armstrong (Columbus, OH, Worthington) combined to work 3 2/3 innings of shutout, hitless relief to preserve the win for Prairie Fire starter, Nathaniel Grady (Antelope, CA, Oakmont).  Grady (3-1) tossed 5 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs and eight hits while striking out one.

Knox added two ninth inning runs on a pinch hit single by senior Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) that brought home sophomore Drew Osborn (Moline, IL, Moline) and first-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East).

Osborn, Bevenue, and Bohnhoff had two hits apiece for the Prairie Fire, who outhit the Fighting Scots 12-8.  Bohnhoff also scored three runs.

Monmouth earned a split in the twinbill by winning the second game 3-1, snapping its long losing skid against Knox.

The Fighting Scots held the Prairie Fire to four singles in the contest.  Smoy led the way with two.

Knox (14-18, 3-11 MWC South) scratched its only run across when Tallman led off the game with a single, stole second, and then scored on a two-out single by Weitendorf.

Monmouth (14-17, 6-8 MWC South) used two singles, two stolen bases, and a pair of Prairie Fire errors to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third.

The Fighting Scots plated the game's final run in the fourth inning after the first three hitters reached on singles against Knox starter, junior Ryder Borre (Wilmette, IL, New Trier).  The run scored as the Prairie Fire turned a 6-4-3 double play.  Borre got the third out on a ground ball to second base.

Knox managed just two hits after the first inning.

Borre (3-3) was charged with the loss despite a solid outing.  He threw eight innings and surrendered only one earned run on nine hits.

The Prairie Fire turn around and host Monmouth in a doubleheader that begins at 12:00 p.m.   It is also Senior Day at Blodgett Field, where 10 Knox players will be recognized before the first game.