LOVES PARK, Ill.- After starting the season hot and going 8-4 on their spring trip, the Rockford University baseball team opened their conference play in a funk. They soundly beat Dominican University in their conference opener before dropping six straight games, including game one Tuesday afternoon against the Edgewood College Eagles. Despite the losses, Rockford has been in almost every game and always a hit or two away from breaking the game open. That trend continued in game one against the Eagles but in game two the clutch hitting was found.
One inning would doom Rockford in the first game against Edgewood. Michael Murray (Princeton, Ill./Princeton) was on the mound to start the game for the Regents. The Eagles were able to only muster two base runners, with one being erased on a double-play, in the first four innings against Murray. Unfortunately for Rockford, Edgewood's pitcher countered Murray all the way. Rockford did threaten in the bottom of the third inning and had a runner in scoring position after Chris Holke (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) walked to start the inning and Bryan Grabowski (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) followed with a hit-by-pitch. The Eagles were able to get out of the inning by getting the Regents to fly out and then ground into a double-play.
Edgewood broke through in the top of the fifth inning. After the lead-off hitter flew out the next two reached on singles. The next batter grounded into a force out at third base and just beat the throw to first to avoid an inning ending double-play. The Eagles capitalized with their next hitter hitting a bases clearing double. A walk and an error scored the fourth run of the inning. They added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Rockford loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning but Edgewood again got out of the jam, this time with a home to first double-play and then a fly out.
In game two against the Eagles the Regents team that went 8-4 on their spring trip returned. Edgewood scored one run off starter Zach Liberatore (Planfield, Ill./Central) in the first inning but Rockford tied it up in the bottom of the second. Matt Grimes (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) used his speed to beat out a groundball that was deflected by Edgewood's pitcher. He then stole second and advanced to third on a ball to the right side of the field. Connor McHugh (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Schaumburg) followed with a walk. Grimes then took home after McHugh faked a steal and Edgewood's shortstop muffed a throw.
The Eagles recaptured the lead in the top of the third but once again Rockford answered. Chris Senn (Victorville, Calf./Silverado) doubled to open the inning and was advanced to third on a groundout. Holke then drove him in with a deep sacrifice fly ball to right field. The Regents kept up the scoring in their next at bats. McHugh singled with one out. Jake McKnight (Monroe Center, Ill./Stillman Valley) followed with a walk. Joe Rigg (Orlando Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) flew out to right field to advance both runners. The hit that the Regents had been missing for awhile was finally delivered by Kyle LaMore (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley) who ripped a two-run double to left field. Senn finished the scoring by driving in LaMore with a single.
That would be all the scoring for both teams with Rockford coming away with the 5-2 win. Liberatore, coming off of four innings of relief on Sunday, pitched five solid innings for his first win of the season. He gave up one earned run on four hits and one walk, striking out two batters. Coming in after Liberatore to shut down the Eagles was Michael Kiviranta (Schaumburg, Ill./Hoffman Estates). He pitched four shut-out innings, allowing only one hit and striking out six batters to record his first save of the season.
Rockford plays again on April 12th at home against Concordia University Wisconsin. The double-header is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m.
