GRINNELL, Iowa - Playing its first game of the season in the friendly confines of Pioneer Park, the Grinnell College baseball team didn't disappoint.

The Pioneers pounded out season-highs of 15 hits and 12 RBIs on their way to opening Midwest Conference play with a 13-6 victory over Monmouth College Friday afternoon. It was the Pioneers' eighth win in a row over the Fighting Scots, dating back to 2021.

Joe Chanis '27 made his Pioneer Park debut one to remember, going 4-for-4 at the plate including a home run in his first at-bat. Nikolas Ruden '26 added three hits, while Sean Richardson '24 and Lucas Hadding '24 tallied two apiece.

Ian Feld '26 had a strong starting pitching effort, scattering five hits and fanning five in earning the win. Ajay Griffin '27 tossed three-hit ball over two innings and Garrett Nasif '24 fired hitless ball over the final two innings to earn the save.

Monmouth got out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning before the Pioneers answered with four in the bottom of the second on Chanis' three-run homer to left and Richardson's RBI single to right.

Monmouth crept within 4-2 in the third, but Grinnell (8-9, 1-0 MWC) erupted for four in the fifth on Evan Borberg's '24 RBI, an RBI single through the left side by Mac McCain '25 and two-run single to center from Ben Kelly '25.

Monmouth (9-7, 2-2 MWC) got three runs in the top of the sixth, but Borberg hit a two-run single down the left-field line in the bottom of the frame to make it 10-5.

The Fighting Scots scored once in the seventh, but the Pioneers got some breathing room in the eighth via an error and two-run single down the left-field line by Ruden.

The teams play again Saturday at Pioneer Park, with the twin bill starting at 11 a.m.