WINTER HAVEN, FLA.- At this time about a year ago the Rockford University baseball team was struggling through the end of its spring trip in Florida. This year's team, returning the majority of the players from last year, made sure it would not be repeated. The Regents pitching staff has been stellar all spring; throwing two shut-outs and giving up four runs or less in 9 of the 12 games thus far. In addition, Rockford's offense has come through in the clutch. Most notably the last two games, which were both walk-off singles to win the game. Rockford took a three game win streak and an 8-3 overall record into its final spring trip game against Wittenburg University (2-5). It would be another close game for Rockford.
Saturday morning would be another 2-1 game for Rockford but this time there was no magic in the final inning. Zach Liberatore (Plainfield, Ill./Central) was on the mound to start the game for the Regents and pitched 5 and two-thirds great innings. Liberatore allowed a couple of base runners in the second inning but picked them both off. He would not allow a hit until the bottom of the 6th inning, when a Wittenburg batter bunted for a hit after Liberatore hit a batter. He then got the next batter to line out but would be replaced after that. Wittenburg would tie the game up at one two batters later after a two-out single.
Rockford got on the score board first in the top half of the sixth inning. Chris Holke (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) singled with two-outs and Kyle LaMore (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley) followed him up with a RBI triple to left center for the first run of the game. Unfortunately, that was all of the scoring for Rockford for the game. They left ten men on base and recorded only four hits, missing the one big hit that they had for most of the spring trip. Wittenburg took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning after a couple of hits and a crucial two-out Regent error to score the go-ahead run. Rockford ended its spring trip with an 8-4 record.
Barring weather and poor field conditions, Rockford continues its season and begins its first conference series March 29th at Dominican University. It is a double-header with a scheduled start time of 12:00 p.m. CST.
