MONMOUTH, Ill. — Turnabout was fair play for Knox College on Saturday afternoon after it began a three-game Midwest Conference series at rival Monmouth College by dropping an 18-3 decision shortened to seven innings. In the nightcap, the Prairie Fire (12-12, 4-4 MWC) scored a season-high 18 runs of their own in another showdown that ended early as the Fighting Scots (10-16, 5-5 MWC) could not keep up in the 18-8 final.

The second game began as a pitchers' duel for the first two innings as neither team could score. The runs came quickly after that, however, as Knox put four on the board in the third, beginning with a two-run double off the bat of Aiden McMurtrie. Although Monmouth tallied solitary runs in the third and fourth, the Prairie Fire bats came to life again in the fifth, scoring six runs on six hits and pair of Scot errors for a sudden 10-2 lead.

But Monmouth matched that total in its half on seven hits. Having its advantage whittled back to two runs, Knox continued to batter the Fighting Scots pitchers with eight more runs in the fifth. Senior Etienne Thomas started the parade with a three-run double, and first-year Hayden Derlein ended it with a two-run single.

Jeff Ripka (4-2) was credited with the victory while Leo Dircks picked up his first career save for silencing the Monmouth bats with 2.2 scoreless innings, striking out two. Toby Turnquist (2-5) took the loss after allowing eight runs, six earned, over 4.1 frames with three punchouts.

Derlein led the Prairie Fire offense with his first career four-hit game, and junior Thomas Wilmot added three more as Knox posted a season-high 17 hits. Thomas and McMurtrie each drove in a career-high four runs.

Monmouth led the first game, 7-0, before the Prairie Fire could get their bats going in the fourth as Thomas singled home a pair of runs. But the Scots continued to put runs on the board against the Knox bullpen, having knocked out senior starter Brandon Ward (3-1) in the third. Alexander Dye launched a grand slam during a seven-run fifth, putting the game out of reach.

Ethan Zaayenga (3-3) provided a quality start, yielding three runs, two earned, over six stanzas on six hits and two walks while striking out six. Monmouth finished the game with 18 hits, three apiece for Dye and Hunter Wheat.

The two teams will conclude their three-game series tomorrow at Glasgow Field at noon. Live video and stats will be available courtesy of Monmouth College through PrairieFire.Knox.edu, the official website of Knox Athletics.