Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
GRINNELL, Iowa – For the first time in program history, the Grinnell College baseball program has won the Midwest Conference Tournament title after sweeping through the field at Pioneer Park this weekend. The Pioneers defeated Illinois College 16-3 in seven innings in Saturday’s championship game.
The Pioneers – who in 2026 also won their first-ever MWC regular season title in baseball – wasted no time scoring in the title bout, as Stuart Cash connected on a two-out grand slam in the first inning. However, Illinois College responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first by Ketch Mills. Grinnell then tacked on a run in the third on a bases-loaded walk by Mitch Baek.
Leading 5-2, an RBI double by Nikolas Ruden and an RBI single by Connor Goodson in the fourth extended the lead before two more runs crossed home in the fifth on a double by Jacob Gaynor and a single by Connor Pink. IC got a run back in the fifth on a single by Nolan Decker, but Goodson homered to lead off the sixth and Grinnell led 10-3.
The hosts put six more runs on the board in the seventh, as Connor Pink doubled and Joe Chanis singled to each bring home a run. Then, Wyatt Raymond hit a three-run homer and Cash went back-to-back with a solo shot, giving Grinnell a commanding 16-3 lead. Illinois College was unable to cross home in the seventh as Grinnell punched its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
In the opening game of the day, Beloit College and Monmouth College completed their elimination game that was suspended on Friday night. Beloit led 6-4 heading into the eighth inning when it picked up, but the Fighting Scots scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead. Beloit was unable to capitalize on a one-out, bases loaded situation in the ninth as Monmouth staved off elimination with a 7-6 win.
The next game featured Monmouth against Illinois College in another elimination game. IC jumped on top early – scoring four runs in the top of the third – before the Fighting Scots responded with solo runs in the third and fifth innings. The Blueboys added insurance runs in the seventh (1), eighth (2) and ninth (4) to go in front 11-2 and held off Monmouth late to win 11-4 and advance to Saturday’s championship.
The Blueboys finish their season with a 26-18 overall record.
Grinnell (25-16) now advances to the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament for the first time in school history with a 26-16 overall record. The Pioneers will learn their postseason destination during Monday’s NCAA Selection Show at 11:00 a.m.