FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Rockford University baseball team's spring trip concluded this afternoon with a single game against Haverford College. The Regents defeated Haverford 5-3 earlier this week behind a brilliant complete game pitching performance by freshman starter Adam O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.). The Fords would face another Regent freshman starter coming off a great pitching performance in Thomas Bolen (Tucson, Ariz.). Bolen pitched seven strong innings of two-run ball against Gettysburg on Monday. He struck out five in the tough-luck no decision. Today was an important game for Rockford as a win today would put the Regents at 7-3 on their spring trip, including winning three games in a row to end the trip and five out of their last six games altogether.
Haverford struck first in the top of the second inning thanks to a two-out fielding error by Rockford. In the bottom half of the inning the Regents struck back. Nick Naber (Rockford, Ill.) singled to right to start the inning and Bobby Barrera (Waukegan, Ill.) drew a clutch full-count two out walk to keep the inning going. Brian Wiest (Lake Zurich, Ill.) followed with a double down the left field line to score both runners and give Rockford the 2-1 lead.
Rockford added another two runs the following inning and it was some familiar faces who did the damage. Robert Smith (Bartlett, Ill.) singled to start the inning. Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) followed with a long single to left center field, but Smith was thrown out at third on the play, with Logemann advancing to second on the throw. One batter later, Naber continued his spring tear with a RBI double just inside the third base line. Evan Frantini (Morris, Ill.) continued the two out hitting with a RBI single up the middle to plate Naber.
Bolen escaped a jam in the top of the fourth inning to keep the momentum in Rockford's favor. He gave up a leadoff walk and after a fly out he gave up back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out. But then he worked his magic and induced an infield fly and a ground out to Wiest at first base to end the Ford's scoring threat. Bolen got into more trouble in the top of the sixth inning with two men on base with one out. But a nice play by Barrera at shortstop on a pop up and a quick flip to Naber at second doubled off the runner to end the inning and another Ford threat.
Rockford continued to get men on base in the next couple of innings, but could not find a way to get them in. Haverford finally got to Bolen and chased him in the top of the seventh after a RBI single to center field to brought the score to 4-2 Rockford and put two men on base with no outs. Back-to-back walks by the Regents reliever forced in a run. The next batter was hit by the pitch to force in the tying run. A sacrifice fly to right field brought in the go ahead run for Haverford. That would all the Fords would get, as O'Malley struck out a batter looking to end the inning.
The Regents looked to tie it up in the bottom of the eighth inning. Frantini started the inning with a leadoff single. He was replaced by a pinch-runner who advanced to second base after the next batter put down a sacrifice bunt. But two fly outs could not get the tying run in. Haverford scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to go up 7-4. It would be too much for the Regents to come back on and fell by that score to Haverford. Rockford finished its spring trip with a respectful 6-4 record.
Bolen was again the tough-luck loser. He gave up just two earned runs in his six innings of work. He allowed five hits, two walks, and struck out four batters. On the offensive side, Frantini finished 3-for-4 with a RBI. Naber had two hits, as did Wiest, who finished with two RBI.
Rockford returns home to cooler weather in hopes that the snow has melted. The Regents next scheduled game is a doubleheader on March 21 against Augustana at 1:00 p.m. Rockford's first home game of the year is a doubleheader against conference opponent Dominican University. The game is scheduled to start at noon.
