LOVES PARK, ILL.- It was another close game Wednesday afternoon for the Rockford University Regents baseball team. After dropping a one-run game on Sunday the Regents returned to the field to face the Chicago University Maroons. The Regents found themselves in another one-run game and pitching battle with the Maroons with both teams' pitchers going the distance. Rockford would take advantage of having the last at bats in the game and add another walk-off win to its season total.
Rockford scored first in the bottom of the first inning. Matt Grimes (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) walked with one-out and Chris Senn (Victorville, Calf./Silverado) followed him up by singling to left field. With two outs Chris Holke (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) got just enough of the ball to single it over the second baseman's head to score Grimes. Chicago answered in the next half-inning off Regents starter Kyle Pisano (Chicago, Ill./LaSalle-Peru). The lead-off hitter singled on a swinging bunt and advanced to second on a throwing error on the same play. The next batter then singled to put runners on the corners. Pisano forced the next batter to ground into a double-play but the runner on third scored on the play.
In the third it was the top of the order of Rockford creating runs again. Grimes led-off the inning with a walk and Senn once again followed him with a single. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position Holke hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Grimes and put Rockford up 2-1. Rockford would hold the lead until the sixth inning when the Maroons scored two unearned runs off Pisano with a two-out single. It would not last long as Grimes doubled in a run to tie the game at three in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Both teams held strong until the bottom of the ninth inning. Jacob Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill./Jefferson) started the inning by reaching base on a throwing error. Jake McKnight (Monroe Center, Ill./Stillman Valley) followed him by also reaching on an error after laying down a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. Matt Szytz (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) was intentionally walked to give the Maroons a force-out at home plate. Scott Swiderek (Chicago, Ill./Walter Lutheran) stepped up with a chance to get a walk-off win for Rockford. After a couple of pitches he found one he liked and hit a fly ball to right field deep enough to score Gorsuch from third base; giving Rockford the 4-3 win.
Pisano pitched a great game to earn his fourth win of the season and his first complete game. He allowed zero earned runs on eight hits and two walks. He also struck out seven batters.
Rockford returns to the field for another non-conference home game tomorrow against Carthage at 3:00 p.m.
