Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Monmouth rallied in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of Knox, clipping the Prairie Fire 5-1 in the opener and 13-12 in the nightcap.
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A three-run double was the difference as
Ryan Sparks' two-bagger capped a two-out rally breaking a 1-1 tie to back the eight-inning, six-hit effort of
Austin Hardy on the mound. Hardy fanned 10 before handing the ball over to Ridge Greenamn in the ninth.
Nic Stevens opened the eighth with a double to set the stage as the Scots drew three walks in the inning – one intentional to
Grant Myers – before Sparks' heroics.
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Steven's one-upped Sparks in the nightcap as Stevens' bases loaded sac fly brought in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, capping a four-run rally to erase a three-run deficit. Trailing 12-9 in the bottom of the ninth,
Lucas Giertz opened the final frame with a double and a walk to
Dayton Ince brought the tying run to the plate in
Brandon Harroun who had tallied four RBIs in the game on a pair of hits. Harroun reached on an error, loading the bases for Sparks. Sparks fanned, but reached base on a wild pitch. A base hit by
Jake Starkey and a bases loaded walk to Hardy – who totaled five RBIs in the contest – knotted the game at 12-12, setting up Stevens' game-winner.
Greenman - who worked the eighth - earned the win, his second of the season.
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