FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Rockford University baseball team returned to the field Thursday afternoon after having an off day on Wednesday. The Regents first game on the day was against The College of Wooster Fighting Scots. Wooster had some momentum going into the game as they had just defeated Olivet College 8-4 to move to 3-0 on the season. On the mound for Rockford was James Northrup (Rockford, Ill.), who looked to improve upon his first start of the season when he went four innings in Rockford's 10-6 win over Northland earlier this week.
Rockford started off slow by giving up three runs in the first inning. A leadoff walk and an error on a potential double play ball hurt the Regents, as both runners later came around to score on a double. The Fighting Scots added another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly. The Regents got a run back in the bottom half of the first inning thanks to a Kevin Robinson (Schaumburg, Ill.) RBI single. He drove in Robert Smith (Bartlett, Ill.), who led off the game with a single and moved to second on an errand throw by the pitcher on a pickoff attempt.
The Regents added a couple of runs in the bottom of the third inning and it was again Smith at the top of the order to start things. He singled to open the inning and went to third after a double by Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.). Robinson came up clutch once again with a single up the middle to score Smith. Logemann then used his wheels to beat a pickle play and score after getting stuck between third and home on a ground ball to third.
Northrup cruised through the second and third innings, giving up just one base runner and only needing 20 total pitches to get through the innings. But he got himself in trouble in the fourth by walking three of the first four batters he faced to load the bases with one out. The Fighting Scots made the walks hurt by singling in two batters to go back up 5-3. Northrup struck out the next batter and then got a ground ball to limit the damage to just two runs. Wooster added another run to its lead in the fifth inning.
The Regents threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning. Andrew Hunt (Apple Vally, Calif.) doubled with one out and Bobby Barrera (Waukegan, Ill.) followed with a walk. But Rockford's next two batters were retired with a pop out and a fly out to end the inning. The Fighting Scots added another run in the top of the seventh. Further damage was avoided when freshman Nathan Mulzer (Neenah, Wis.) came in. He worked around a walk to get a foul out and a strikeout to leave two men stranded in scoring position.
That would be all the scoring for the game as both sides' pitchers threw up zeros the rest of the way. Smith finished with three hits and he scored two runs. Robinson also had two hits and two RBIs. Hunt finished with two hits, including a double. Game two would be a complete turnaround for the Regents on both sides of the ball.
On the mound for Rockford was ace Michael Murray (Princeton, Ill.). He pitched five shutout innings to earn the win in Rockford's season opener. He out did himself tonight against Millikin. He gave up an unearned run in the top of the second inning, but that was all Millikin could manage for the game. Murray struck out 12 in the win and scattered six hits and a walk. He is now 2-0 on the season and has not given up an earned run in 14 innings.
On the offensive side of the ball it was the middle of the order that did the damage for the Regents. Robinson got Rockford on the board in the third inning with a single up the middle to score Jacob McKnight (Monroe Center, Ill.) who singled to start the inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning it was a familiar face that did all of the damage. Rockford loaded the bases and with one out Logemann came up and promptly hit a long grand slam to left center field to put Rockford up 5-1.
The Regents scored two more in the sixth inning to put the game away. Evan Frantini (Morris, Ill.) pinch-hit and doubled to deep left center field. Logemann singled him in one batter later. Nick Naber (Rockford, Ill.) singled in Logemann with two outs to score the seventh and final run of the game.
Five different Regents finished with two hits and eight Regents in all had a hit. Logemann finished with five RBI and the grand slam was his fourth home run on the early season.
Rockford's spring trip continues tomorrow with a single game against Emerson College at 12:00 p.m.
