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GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College continued its strong play at home with a 5-3 and 14-1 doubleheader sweep of the Prairie Fire in Midwest Conference South play on Sunday.

Sophomore Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) hit his team-leading fourth home run in the Knox eighth to slice a 4-2 deficit to one in the first game.  The Pioneers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and got out of a two-on, no out jam in the top of the ninth to hold on for the win.

Grinnell (13-15, 6-4) led 1-0 lead on an unassisted ground ball out to first with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second.

Sophomore Alex Bell (Elgin, IL, Burlington Central) singled home the tying run with two outs in the top of the third.  The Prairie Fire took advantage of a walk and a throwing error to move in front, 2-1, in the top of the fourth.

The Pioneers regained the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run single and a sacrifice fly to right field that made it 4-2.

Grinnell held a 9-5 edge in total hits.  Weitendorf and first-year Auggie Ward (Freeburg, IL, Gibault) both reached base twice for Knox on offense.

Sophomore hurler Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) was charged with the loss.  He gave up four runs and four hits, walked four and struck out seven in 5.1 innings.

The Prairie Fire (9-21, 3-11) had only two hits in the finale, including a double by sophomore Drake Sykes (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) in the top of the first.  Sykes stole third and came around to score on an error for a 1-0 advantage.

Grinnell hurler Sam Tinkham, the reigning MWC South Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore, held Knox to a double by Bell in the top of the third the rest of the way.  He struck out seven and walked two to earn the victory to help his team improve to 6-1 at home this year.

Meanwhile, the Pioneer offense built a 10-1 lead through three innings against Prairie Fire starting pitcher, first-year Zach Chainuck (Plainfield, IL, Plainfield East).

Grinnell tacked on a run-scoring single in the fifth and a three-run homer in the sixth.

Chainuck suffered the loss after surrendering 10 earned runs and seven hits in 3.1 innings on the mound.  He walked seven, hit two batters, and struck out two.

The Pioneers finished with 11 hits, seven of them for extra bases.

Knox gets another shot at Grinnell on Monday, when the teams play a doubleheader at Blodgett Field.  The games are the last at home this season for the Prairie Fire, who will recognize the seniors before the start of the first contest at 1:00 p.m.