Baseball Splits Saturday DH with Beloit

Hatlestad strikes out 10 in game two

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (04/10/2022) — The Monmouth College baseball team split their home conference double header against Beloit on Saturday, earning their first MWC win of the season. Beloit took game one 5-0 before the Scots won game two 6-5.

Beloit scored three runs in the second inning against Scots starter Addison Fletcher (Monmouth, Illinois). They added a run in the third and Fletcher left after six innings with four runs allowed on seven hits while striking out six.

Monmouth had just two hits through the first six innings. Their best chance to score came in the eighth as the first two reached. But a strikeout, groundout and fly out ended the threat.

The Scots had five singles from five different players in the opener. Nicholas Corman (Monmouth, Illinois) didn't allow an earned run in his three relief innings.

In game two the Scots got on the board in the bottom of the first. Logan Komater (Ottawa, Illinois) led off with a single and stole second with one out. He came around to score on a groundout by Justin Bost (Reynolds, Illinois) for a 1-0 lead.

Beloit took the lead against Scots starter AJ Hatlestad (New Windsor, Illinois) in the fourth. A double, walk and an error led two one run scoring and another double gave Beloit a 3-1 lead.

Monmouth tied the game in the fifth. Christian Centeno (Miami, Florida) led off with a single and Nathan Reed (Chenoa, Illinois) singled. After a sac bunt, Komater drove home both runners to tie the contest 3-3.

Beloit took the lead in the sixth with a solo home run. Monmouth regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Bost led off with a double and Jack Kuethe (Pekin, Illinois) singled. Bost scored on a sacrifice fly and Centeno put the Scots on top 5-4 with a double. Reed's single gave Monmouth a 6-4 lead before Beloit changed pitchers and got out of the inning.

Hatlestad worked into the eighth inning and Beloit scored to cut the lead to one. With the tying run at second and the go-ahead run on first, Hatlestad gave way to Eli Herrera (Romeoville, Illinois). The senior right-hander got a strikeout looking to end the inning.

Cade Sharp (Aledo, Illinois) got two quick outs to start the ninth before hitting a batter. The Scots ended the game as catcher Daniel Lummus (New Port Richey, Florida) threw out the runner trying to steal second.

Hatlestad (3-2) struck out 10 and allowed two earned runs in 7 2/3 innings. He walked two and gave up six hits. Sharp picked up his first save with one strikeout in a hitless inning. Komater, Bost, Kuethe, Centeno and Reed all had two hits in game two.

Monmouth and Beloit will finish the series at 1 p.m. Sunday in Beloit, Wisconsin.