LISLE, Ill. - Fresh off its sweep of Aurora University on Saturday, the Regents baseball team hit the road on Sunday to try and keep its momentum going against the second place Benedictine University Eagles. Rockford knew it would be a daunting task to knock off the Eagles though as the Regents had lost six straight to them entering Sunday's doubleheader. Rockford's difficulty with Benedictine would continue as the Regents lost both games by finals of 6-0 and 8-2.
The opening game did not get off to a good start for the Regents as the Eagles scored early and never looked back. Benedictine scored four runs in the first inning to grab a commanding 4-0 lead and then added single runs in the second and seventh innings en route to the 6-0 win.
Despite not being able to push a run across, Rockford did have multiple scoring opportunities. In the top of the first inning, Connor McHugh (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Schaumburg) and Chris Senn (Victorville, Calif./Silverado) strung together back-to-back one-out hits to place runners on first and second. However, the Eagles retired the next two batters to end the threat. The Regents had one more really good scoring opportunity which came in the top of the fifth inning. Jacob Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill./Jefferson) and Jake McKnight (Monroe Center, Ill./Stillman Valley) began the inning with consecutive singles to give Rockford runners on first and second with no outs. Following a strikeout the Regents then loaded the bases for the middle of the order when Matt Grimes (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) was hit by a pitch. However, Benedictine once again wiggled out of the jam when it induced an inning-ending double play.
After dropping game one, Rockford was looking for a bit of redemption in game two and for a while it appeared as though the Regents would get it. Rockford wasted little time getting runners on base once again as it loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning thanks to back-to-back-to-back singles from McHugh, Senn and Chris Holke (Barrington, Ill./Barrington). Following a strikeout, it was Kyle LaMore (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley) who delivered in the clutch for the second consecutive day when he singled into left field to give his team a 1-0 lead. The score would remain 1-0 until Rockford added to its lead in the top of the fourth inning. Jacob Gorsuch began the inning with a walk, then stole second base and then advanced to third on Connor McHugh single. With runners on first and third, Rockford used a double steal to make it a 2-0 lead. However the Regents were unable to extend their lead any further as they left two runners on base when the inning ended. This would be an ongoing theme throughout the game as Rockford stranded 16 runners including leaving the bases loaded two times and leaving two runners on base in four other innings.
Rockford's 2-0 lead did not last long as Benedictine scored a run in the bottom of the fourth and then scored 3 more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 advantage. After a lengthy rain delay in the middle of the seventh inning, the Eagles put the game away scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the inning en route to an 8-2 win.
Game two starting pitcher Michael Murray (Princeton, Ill./Princeton) threw well in his five innings of work. The sophomore surrendered just two runs while striking out three. Sophomore Jake McKnight also threw well in relief. McKnight allowed just one unearned run off one hit in his 1.2 innings of work.
Despite being swept on Sunday, Rockford still holds the sixth and final Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference playoff spot. If the Regents win both of their games on Saturday, May 3rd at Marian University they will clinch a spot in the NACC Tournament. First pitch of the Marian doubleheader is set for 12:00 p.m. However prior to those games, Rockford will play at home on Tuesday, April 29th against Maranatha. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Aviators Stadium.
