FORT MYERS, Ill.- The Rockford University baseball team spring trip is almost to an end, with a game remaining today against the Emerson College Lions and one game tomorrow against Haverford College. Emerson, a young team, was 0-8 coming into the game. Despite the poor record, the Lions came in hitting .298 as a team with a .390 on base percentage. In what could have been a potential early season trap game for Rockford, the Regents remained focused and won 12-0.
The Regents scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning on a two out bases loaded walk by freshman Kraemer Brandt (Elk Grove, Ill.). Rockford added four more runs in the next inning.
The middle of the order continued to do most of the damage. Nick Naber (Rockford, Ill.) doubled in Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) and Kevin Robinson (Schaumburg, Ill.) to start the scoring. Naber advanced to third on a throwing error on the play and then was singled in by the next batter, Evan Frantini (Morris, Ill.), who later scored on a wild pitch.
On the mound for Rockford and making his first start of the season was senior Bill Fell (Lake Villa, Ill.). He cruised through the early part of the game and did not allow a hit until the fourth inning. The Lions threatend to score in the inning after three of the first two batters singled, but Fell retired the next two batters on a foul out and a flyout to end the threat.
Naber started another scoring threat in the bottom of the fifth inning. He again doubled down the left field line. Frantini followed with a single and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Josh Cooper (Yorkville, Ill.) followed with a RBI single to right. Frantini later scored on a thrown down to second when Cooper attempted to steal.
Rockford added another run in bottom of the sixth. Brandt scored again on a RBI single by Britton Seivert (Rockford, Ill.). The Regents bats put the game out of reach the following inning by putting up a four spot. The big blow came from a two-run triple to left center field by Logemann.
Fell and three Regent relievers combined for a three hit shutout. Fell picked up the victory by going five innings. He gave up three runs, two walks, and struck out one batter. He also picked off two Lion runners who reached base against him.
The offensive attack was spread around for Rockford. Logemann finished with two hits and two RBI. Naber finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Frantini went 2-for-2 with three runs and a RBI. He also had two of Rockford's six stolen bases on the day. Rounding out the offensive attack was Brandt who finished 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Rockford's final spring trip game is tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. CST against Haverford College. The Regents beat Haverford 5-3 earlier this week,
