FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University baseball team opened its season with a pair of impressive wins on Saturday in Fort Myers, Florida. In its first game of the day, Rockford defeated Eastern Nazarene 3-2 in a pitcher's duel before capping off the evening with an impressive 21-8 victory over Finlandia University.
In the first game of the day it was right-hander David Camacho (Elk Grove, Ill.) who stole the show with his impressive performance on the mound. The junior fired 7 strong innings allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. Camacho cruised through much of his outing as he did not allow multiple runners on base at the same time in any of his seven innings of work. His lone run allowed came in the top of third inning when the Lions took advantage of a one-out walk and two batters later knocked in a run with a two-out double. After allowing the run, Camacho began to take control as he allowed just one hit over his final four innings of work to pick up the win.
Offensively, Rockford was able to strike first with a two-run second inning to grab the early lead. The Regents put two runners on base with just one out after Evan Frantini (Coal City, Ill.) was hit by a pitch and Austin Smith (Peru, Ill.) drew a one-out walk. Following a strikeout, senior Devin Standard (Monroe Center, Ill.) delivered a clutch two-out RBI single into centerfield scoring Frantini and giving the Regents a 1-0 lead. Rockford tacked on one additional run in the inning as the Regents took advantage of an Eastern Nazarene error to make it a 2-0 game.
The Regents would add an insurance run in the fifth inning to give themselves a little breathing room. Eric Gnippe (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) got the inning started as both were able to reach base after being hit by pitches. Then with two outs Ryan Scarpetta (Rockton, Ill.) came through with an RBI single into left field to give Rockford a 3-1 advantage.
With Rockford still leading 3-2 entering the ninth inning, the Regents turned to Thomas Goodyear (Romeoville, Ill.) to close out the game. Goodyear did not disappoint as he was able to retire the side in order with ease striking out two and inducing a flyout to earn the save.
In the final game of the night for Rockford they cruised to a 21-8 victory over Finlandia. The Regents started senior Josh Cooper (Yorkville, Ill.) who struggled in the first inning before settling down over his final four innings to record his first win of the season. In his final four frames he gave up 2 runs and 4 hits and that was all Rockford needed as their offense exploded in the game.
Offensively, the Regents scored in every inning. To begin the barrage of runs in the opening frame Scarpetta destroyed a fastball over the left field wall for a two-run home run. Rockford put two more runners on base when Seth Dascher (Lena, Ill.) hit a single into left field to score the two baserunners and bring the score back to a 4-4 tie at the end of the first inning. In the second inning the Regents got a baserunner on for Robert Smith (Bartlett, Ill.) who hit an RBI triple to clear the bases and give the Regents a lead they would not relinquish. Logemann drove smith in with a sacrifice fly to give Rockford a 6-4 lead.
Both teams traded runs as the Regents led 8-6 heading into the bottom of the 5th inning. Rockford broke the game open with 5 runs highlighted by a three-RBI triple from Scarpetta. Rockford added 8 more runs to finish the game with a 21-8 victory. The Regents recorded 15 hits and 12 walks.
Also, playing well offensively for the Regents were Kraemer Brandt (Elk Grove, Ill.) who collected four hits and two RBI's. Logemann added four RBI's and drew 3 walks. Frantini recorded two RBI's, including an RBI triple, and drew two walks. Dascher drove in three runs in the game as well.
The Rockford University men's baseball team returns to action Sunday, March 6 to take on Otterbein College in Fort Myers, Fla. with a scheduled start time of 9 a.m. EST.
