RIVER FOREST, Ill. - Fresh off their sweep over Dominican on Saturday, the Regents were hoping to keep that momentum going as the traveled back to River Forest for a doubleheader against the Concordia University Chicago Cougars. Both the Regents and Cougars have been two of the top teams in the Northern Athletics Conference since it was created for the 2006 season. The two schools have combined to win 5 NAC regular season titles and 3 NAC Tournament Championships. The Regents hold a 57-50 overall record against the Cougars but are just 8-10 against them since the two teams joined the NAC. Last season Rockford and Concordia Chicago split their regular season doubleheader but the Cougars also won the meeting between the two teams in the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament.
As expected the opening game turned into a pitcher's duel as both teams sent their top pitcher so far this season to the mound. The Cougars sent out Dan Kluss and the Regents countered with Daryn Streed (Belvidere, Ill./North). Kluss entered with a 2-1 record with 19 strikeouts and a 2.12 earned run average over 21.2 innings pitched. Streed came in with a 1-1 record with 9 strikeouts and a 0.49 earned run average over 18.1 innings pitched this season.
Each run scored was critical as there were only 4 total runs scored for the entire game. The Cougars struck first breaking the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning. Following a leadoff single, Will Randerson belted a 2-run home run to right field to take a quick 2-0 lead. Concordia Chicago pushed its lead to 3-0 when the Cougars took advantage of a Rockford error to score an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. Rockford finally broke through with 2 outs in the top of the seventh courtesy of a Matt Grimes (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) solo home run. The Regents continued to put pressure on the Cougars placing runners on first and second after a Jacob Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill./Jefferson) single and a Concordia Chicago error. However, Rockford struck out to end the inning and the threat. Rockford had one final chance to tie the game in the ninth. Scott Swiderek (Chicago, Ill./Walter Lutheran) began the inning with a walk followed by a single from Matt Grimes to place runners on first and second with just one out. The threat would end there as the next two batters struck out and grounded out to end the game as Concordia Chicago won the opener 3-1.
Daryn Streed pitched another excellent game for Rockford. Streed threw 121 pitches over his 7 innings on the mound. The senior gave up just 2 earned runs while striking out 4 batters. Streed now has a team-best 1.07 earned run average this season with 13 strikeouts over his 25.1 innings pitched.
Game two of the doubleheader followed a similar format of game one as the Cougars once again got on the scoreboard first forcing the Regents to play from behind. Concordia Chicago took the lead in the bottom of the second inning capitalizing on a Rockford error go up 1-0. The Cougars then used a big fourth inning to score 3 runs on 4 hits to build a 4-0 advantage after 4 innings. Rockford fired right back with a 2-run sixth inning cutting the Cougar lead in half. Freshman Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) began the inning lacing a double into left field. Two batters later, catcher Terry Wiltshire (Elizabeth, Ill./River Ridge) ripped an RBI double to left center scoring Logemann to make it a 4-1 game. After a single by Chris Senn (Apple Valley, Calif./Silverado) advanced Wiltshire to third, Matt Grimes made it a 4-2 game driving in his second run of the day on an RBI fielder's choice. However, Concordia Chicago answered right back in the bottom of the inning with a 2 runs of its own extending its lead back to four runs. Rockford was able to tighten the score to 6-3 in the eighth inning off a pair of doubles from Daryn Streed and Chris Senn. However, the Regents were unable to claw any closer as Concordia Chicago completed the sweep with a 6-3 victory.
The Rockford bullpen did a good job to keep the Regents within striking distance in game two. Senior Sean Gillette (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) threw 2.1 scoreless innings in his first Northern Athletics Conference appearance this season. Gillete surrendered just 1 hit before turning it over to Zach Liberatore (Plainfield, Ill./Central) who retired the only batter he faced to end the eighth inning.
The baseball team returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 6th to open the home portion of its schedule against Concordia University Wisconsin. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. at Aviators Stadium in Loves Park, Ill.
