FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Rockford University baseball team returned to the field Tuesday for two games against Defiance and Gettysburg College. The Regents were looking to continue their hot start to the season. Rockford went out and took both games on the day winning game one by the final of 7-3 and game two by the final of 6-4.
In game one sophomore Nathan Mulzer (Neenah, Wis.) tossed 6 strong innings for the Regents. Mulzer allowed only 2 runs, 0 earned, scattering only 6 hits and striking out 5 batters. The start was the first of his collegiate career and it was his first win of the season. Finishing the final three innings was junior David Camacho (Elk Grove, Ill.) earning his first save of the season and second of his collegiate career. Camacho has an impressive start to the season throwing ten innings allowing only two runs and earning a win and a save in the first six games.
Offensively, Rockford could not muster any offense until their second time through the batting order when Evan Frantini (Coal City, Ill.) drove in Ryan Scarpetta (Rockton, Ill.) and Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) with a three-run home run. The hit gave Rockford the 3-1 advantage. Defiance narrowed the deficit to 3-2 and the Regents were unable to build on their lead until the seventh inning when Seth Dascher (Lena, Ill.) scored on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 4-2. Rockford added some insurance in the ninth inning when Robert Smith (Bartlett, Ill.) and Scarpetta both hit RBI singles and Frantini added an RBI double to make the lead 7-2 going into the final frame. Defiance scratched one more run across and the Regents scored another victory to improve their record to 4-1.
Frantini continued his hot streak going 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and 4 RBI's. Dascher went 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored. Smith went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
In game two sophomore Thomas Bolen (Tucson, Ariz.) took the mound for the Regents and was excellent. Bolen threw 7 and 2/3 innings allowing 4 runs, 0 earned, allowed 5 hits and struck out 9 batters. He made his first appearance of the season and recorded his first win of the year. Following up Bolen was Brady Frank (Freeport, Ill.) completing an inning of work before yielding to Adam O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.) to complete the game and receive the first save of his collegiate career.
Offensively, the Regents went scoreless in the first but pounded the baseball in the second inning. Andrew Hunt (Apple Valley, Calif.) hit began the scoring with a two-run single to score both Smith and Devin Standard (Stillman Valley, Ill.). After a Britton Seivert (Rockford, Ill.) single Patrick O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.) laced a single through the right side to plate Fantini. Rockford was just getting started as Eric Gnippe (Hinsdale, Ill.), Kyle Rothrock (Utica, Ill.) and Standard all hit RBI singles to increase the lead to 6-0 in favor of Rockford. Unfortunately the Regents bats went quiet for the rest of the game and could not plate another run. However, the pitching for Rockford did an outstanding job in holding the Gettysburg hitters from scoring. Ultimately, the Regents won by the final of 6-4 to push their overall record to 5-1.
Hunt continued to see the ball well going 2-for-5 with two RBI's. Standard went 2-for-2 at the plate and reached base in all four plate appearances. Frantini and Smith each went 2-for-4 and Gnippe recorded multiple hits as well.
The Rockford University baseball team has the day off Wednesday and will return to action Thursday, March 10 for two games against Ohio Wesleyan and Thiel University. The first game is scheduled for 9 a.m. EST. and game two is scheduled for 12 p.m. EST.
