ANDERSON, Ind. — The Knox baseball team scored 16 runs in a doubleheader at Anderson University (Ind.) on Wednesday afternoon, but the host Ravens could not be subdued at the plate as the Prairie Fire lost both games at Don Brandon Field by scores of 9-7 and 16-9. The losses ended a four-game win streak to open the season for Knox (4-2), while Anderson improved to 7-4.

The Prairie Fire fell behind in the first inning of game one, 2-0, but stormed back with five in the top of the fourth. Junior Thomas Wilmot got the parade started with an RBI triple, and sophomore Tyler Kemp, senior Holden Jones and first-year Hayden Derlein each drove in runs with consecutive singles.

But the Ravens clawed back with a two-run double in the fourth and three more tallies in the fifth to reclaim the lead, 7-5. Knox threatened to tie the game in the eighth by pushing one run across the plate and putting runners on the corners with one out. The tying run was left at third, however, after a shallow fly to left and a fly to right.

Ben Seitzinger gave Anderson some breathing room with a two-run two-bagger in the bottom half, and it turned out to be important when the Prairie Fire manufactured a run in the ninth, but no more.

Aidan Shoemaker (1-0) earned the win with 2.1 perfect innings of relief for the Ravens, while Knox starter Jacob Halseth (1-1) was pegged with the defeat for yielding six runs on nine hits in 4.1 frames.

The second game began well with two runs in the top of the first. Although Anderson answered with four in its half, the Prairie Fire roared back with five in the second, highlighted by RBI singles courtesy of sophomore Hunter Broers and Halseth, and a two-run single off the bat of senior Etienne Thomas.

By the end of the fourth, the game was knotted at eight, and the Ravens continued to peck away with two runs in the fifth, another in the sixth and two more in the seventh before Knox responded with a solitary tally in the eighth. The scoring ended with three more Anderson runs in the bottom half.

The win went to reliever Jackson Clifford (1-1) who twirled a pair of shutout innings in the fifth and sixth, while junior Jake Baker (0-1) took the loss for yielding two runs in his first inning of work this season.

• Derlein, the reigning Midwest Conference Position Performer of the Week, had two hits in each game and drove in a total of three runs.
• Thomas had three RBIs in the nightcap, and senior Tre Chatman III drove in two by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded each of his first two trips to the plate, not to mention getting plunked in his third plate appearance.
• While the Prairie Fire pounded out 19 hits in the two games combined, the Ravens doubled that total, including 22 safeties in the second game.

Knox will take the next few days off for winter exams before flying to Florida for its spring break trip featuring seven games between March 18-24. First up will be Salem State University at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale on Tuesday, March 18 at 12:30 p.m. (EDT). Fans who would like to watch online can purchase a subscription to BeTheBeast.com; links are provided for each game in Florida on the Knox baseball schedule at PrairieFire.Knox.edu, the official website of Knox Athletics.