AUBURNDALE, FLA.- Game two on Wednesday afternoon featured a great test for the Rockford University baseball team. They faced a tough opponent in the Rhodes College Lynx (12-4). Rockford had an early lead in the game but Rhodes eventually out slugged the Regents, securing a 10-5 victory.
In the top of the second Terry Wiltshire (Elizabeth, Ill./River Ridge) got things going for the Regents with a lead-off double. Scott Swiderek (Chicago, Ill./Walter Lutheran) followed by getting hit by a pitch and then Connor McHugh (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Schaumburg) lined a RBI double to right center. After a pop out, Adrian Gameros (Rialto, Calif./Carter) crushed a triple over the center fielders head, scoring Swiderek and McHugh.
The lead did not last long as the Lynx would get to starter Michael Murray (Princeton, Ill./Princeton) in the bottom of the second for five runs. Rockford used the strong left to right wind to its advantage in the top half of the inning and Rhodes followed suit in the bottom. The Lynx would get four straight hits and five in the inning, with three of the five hits going to the right side of the field. Despite giving up ten runs, Murray battled all day and ate up some innings for the Regents who play six games in four days and four in two. He finished with five strike outs and only walked one batter. James Northrup (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago) pitched three and two-thirds strong innings in relief; giving up four hits, no runs, and striking out four batters.
Rockford would add another run in the third inning. Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill./Lena-Winslow) singled to start the inning and was later driven in on a fielder's choice by Bryan Grabowski (Barrington, Ill./Barrington). The Regent's last run of the game came on a sac fly by Bobby Barrera (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan), scoring McHugh who singled to start the inning.
The Regent's spring trip continues tomorrow with two more games. Game one is at 10:30 a.m. CST against New Jersey City. Game two is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. against The College of New Jersey.
