LOVES PARK, Ill.- One day after an overall strong team performance and 9-2 win against Illinois Tech, the Rockford University baseball team returned home Wednesday afternoon to host the Elmhurst College Blue Jays. The Regents found themselves down 3-0 after the first inning and it took a late rally for Rockford to pull out the victory. It was a familiar face who had the go-ahead hit in the seventh inning and starting pitcher Bill Fell (Lake Villa, Ill.) recovered after the first inning to throw five straight scoreless innings.
The Blue Jays scored three runs in the top of the first. They did it with four hits in the inning, including two straight run scoring hits with two outs. After the first inning offensive outburst, neither team was able to score until the fifth inning. With two outs in the inning, Rockford played some small ball. Kwynn Rury (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) reached base via an error. He then stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Robert Smith (Bartlett, Ill.) promptly singled in Rury to cut Elmhurst's lead down to two.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Rockford was finally able to string together some hits. Kraemer Brandt (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) doubled with one out to start the rally. Jacob McKnight (Stillman Valley, Ill.) followed with a walk to put the tying run on base. A clutch double steal by Brandt and McKnight put both men in scoring position with still just one out.
A walk by Britton Seivert (Rockford, Ill.) loaded the bases and put the pressure on the Blue Jays. Smith came through again with a single through the left side of the infield. Brandt scored, but McKnight and the game-tying run was cut down at the plate. Despite the tying run thrown out at the plate, things were still in the Regents favor. Rockford had two men on and the right man was coming to the plate. Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.), who had seven RBI yesterday, was coming to the plate with the game-tying run and the go-ahead run on base. He finished off the rally with a two-run triple. An error on Elmhurst's second baseman resulted in Logemann scoring on the play to give Rockford a 5-3 lead. Rockford's bullpen locked things down to secure the 5-3 win.
In relief of Fell, Josh Cooper (Yorkville, Ill.) pitched three shut-out innings and gave up just three baserunners on a couple of singles and a fielding error. He struck out three batters to pick up his first win of the season. After a rough start, Fell settled down and finished with a quality start. He pitched six strong innings, giving up the three first inning runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four batters.
Logemann continued his hot streak by going 3-for-4 with one run, two RBI, and the game winning triple. Smith also finished with multiple hits. He went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Rockford stole four bases in the game. Logemann now has an outstanding 44 RBI on the season.
Rockford takes a three game winning streak into an important weekend of conference games. On Saturday April 25 the Regents travel to Aurora to play two games starting at noon. On Sunday Rockford hosts a doubleheader against Benedictine starting at 1:00 p.m. Sunday's doubleheader will also be the Regents 2015 senior day.
