TUCSON, Ariz. – The Grinnell College baseball team wrapped up its spring break trip in style Sunday, rallying to defeat Middlebury College 7-6 to end a three-game losing streak.
 
Andrew Shults '19 had two hits, including a double, for the winners and Niko Takayesu '17 added a two-bagger.
 
Ben Binversie '17, the fifth of five Pioneer pitchers, worked the final two innings to get the win and improve to 2-0.
 
Grinnell got off to a great start, taking a 3-0 lead through two innings. In the first, Takayesu and Schults walked before Matt Hammond '17 belted a two-run single to left. In the second, Kory Czajkowski '20 walked with two out, went to second on Takayesu's walk, moved to third when Shults was hit by a pitch and scored when Hammond was hit by a pitch.
 
Middlebury reduced the gap with two runs in the fourth inning, but the Pioneers responded in the sixth when Takayesu doubled down the right-field line with one out and scored when Shults hit an RBI double to center. Shults later scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-2.
 
However, Middlebury took the lead with a run in the seventh inning and three more in the eighth before the Pioneers delivered their magic in the bottom of the eighth. Takayesu walked, Shults bunted for a single and Hammond was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sam Galanek '18 then reached base on an error to push across two runs.
 
Grinnell, 6-7 on the season, opens its 2017 home slate Saturday when Illinois College visits for a four-game series. Saturday's twin bill begins at noon.