LOVES PARK, Ill.- The Rockford University baseball team returned to action Tuesday to take on Beloit College in a non-conference matchup. The Regents were looking to continue their hot hitting from Sunday's doubleheader. Unfortunately, Rockford was unable to score enough runs in the first game falling by the final of 9-5 but bounced back to earn the victory in the second by the final of 8-2.
Taking the mound in game one was Nathan Mulzer (Neenah, Wis.) who completed 6 innings of work allowing 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 6. Following Mulzer was Brady Frank (Freeport, Ill.). After Frank were Nicholas Hutten (Mundelein, Ill.), Dalton Morris (Somonauk, Ill.) and Gary Broenneke (Chicago, Ill.) combined to throw 2 innings allowing only 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 5.
Offensively, the Regents struck first when Evan Frantini (Coal City, Ill.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Kraemer Brandt (Elk Grove, Ill.) from third base. After three Buccaneer runs, Rockford answered in the sixth with two of their own to tie the game when Frantini scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning Patrick O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.) grounded into a double play which enabled Ryan Scarpetta (Rockton, Ill.) to score from third base. Trailing again in the ninth inning Rockford took advantage of a Beloit error to score two runs when Josh Cooper (Yorkville, Ill.) came around to score on the error. Following the error Brandt brought in Chris Carlson (Schaumburg, Ill.) on an RBI groundout. Ultimately, the Regents could not tack on any more runs and fell by the final of 9-5.
Taking the mound in game two was Jake Morsch (Somonauk, Ill.) who threw very well for Rockford. He completed 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and striking out 3. Morsch earned his second victory of the season and pushed his record to 2-0. Following Morsch was Tyler Joyce (Rochelle, Ill.) who finished the final 3 innings allowing only one hit and striking out 4 to earn his second save of the season.
Offensively, Rockford scored in two innings, however, each time they managed to plate four in each one. In the fourth inning the Regents took advantage of multiple mistakes by the Buccaneers, scoring on a balk and two errors. The big inning gave them a 4-2 lead heading into the fifth inning. The score remained the same until the seventh inning when Rockford added their insurance runs. Robert Smith (Bartlett, Ill.) began the scoring hitting an RBI single through the right side of the infield to drive in Kwynn Rury (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) Following Smith was Frantini who scorched an RBI triple to right center field to plate both Smith and Seth Sanderson (Fulton, Ill.). Next up, Scarpetta hit an RBI single to bring in Frantini and score the final run of the inning. The insurance runs gave Rockford an 8-2 victory.
Playing well for the Regents was Frantini going 3-for-6 with 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Scarpetta and Hinkelman each added multi-hit games. Andrew Hunt (Apple Valley, Calif.) collected a hit, an RBI, a run scored and 2 walks on the day.
The Rockford University baseball team returns to action Saturday, April 30 against Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis. with a scheduled start time of 12 p.m.
