FORT MYERS, Fla. - A day after winning its opening game of the season, the Rockford College baseball team squared off in a doubleheader against the Gettysburg College Bullets. The Bullets came into the game fresh off two shutout victories on Monday. While the Regents used two 3-run innings to defeat Mitchell College in their season opener.
Game one quickly turned into a pitcher's duel as both teams struggled to come up with clutch hits with runners in scoring position. Gettysburg had a golden opportunity to score in the forth inning but were denied thanks in part to an excellent defensive play by Jake McKnight (Monroe Center, Ill./Stillman Valley). McKnight scooped up a single hit into left field and fired a perfect strike to the plate to shoot down a Bullet trying to score from second base to end the inning. The Bullets would however break the 0-0 tie an inning later and grab a 1-0 lead. Rockford answered right back scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning without recording a hit. Jacob Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill./Jefferson) got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and later scored on a walk by McKnight to tie the game. Bryan Grabowski (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) later scored making it a 2-1 game after Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) was also hit by a pitch. Gettysburg again threatened in the seventh inning and would have scored another run if not for another gem from a Regent defender. This time is was Grabowski who leaped into the air and snagged a line drive to save a run. Gettsburg broke through an inning later scoring an unearned run tie the game at 2-2. However, it could have been much worse if it was not for yet another outstanding defensive play, this one courtesy of Gorsuch. With one out and the bases loaded Gorsuch ran down a fly ball in right field and threw a dart to home to comlete a double play ending the inning. Once the game went into extra innings, it was Gettysburg who scored 2 runs in the 11th inning and put away the opening game with a 4-2 victory.
Game two had a near identical feel as game one with both team's pitching staffs dominating the opposing offenses. Gettysburg was however able to score an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Rockford was held without a hit until Matt Grimes (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) hit a double into shallow center field in the sixth inning. It wasn't until the seventh inning when the Regents tied the game at 1-1. Ryan Woodard (St. Charles, Ill./Burlington) drew a pinch-hit walk and then pinch runner Adrian Gameros (Rialto, Calif./Carter) would later score on a Gorsuch RBI fielders choice. However, Gettysburg essentially ended the game an inning later when it scored two more unearned runs to complete the sweep with a 3-1 victory.
Both starting pitchers for the Regents were outstanding in their season debuts. Senior Daryn Streed (Belvidere, Ill./North) went 7 innings and gave up just 1 run. Streed scattered 8 hits and struck out 2 batter. The senior threw just under 100 pitches but recieved a no decision in his first start on the mound in 2013. Sophomore Michael Kiviranta (Schaumburg, Ill./Hoffmann Estates) was eqully impressive in his start. Kiviranta went 7.1 innings, scattered 6 hits and struck out 4 batters while issuing 0 walks. The sophomore gave up 3 unearned runs and took the tough luck loss in game two.
Rockford will try to get back on the winning track on Tuesady when it plays Westminster College (Mo.) at 10:00 a.m. The game will be played at Terry Park in Fort Myers, Fla.
