FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Rockford University baseball team competed in their second game of the day against Thiel College. The Regents were aiming to get back on track after a loss earlier in the day. Rockford scorched the ball in the second game collecting 13 hits and tallying 8 runs. Unfortunately, their sloppy defense led to six unearned runs, to ultimately fall by the final of 11-8.
Rockford got on the board immediately in the first inning when Tyler Johnson (Chicago, Ill.) ripped a triple to left-center field to leadoff the game. One batter later, Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) roped a double down the left field line to plate Johnson from third base. RU jumped out to the early 1-0 lead. Thiel was able to match Rockford's run, taking advantage of a Regent error, to knot the score at 1-1.
However, the Regents responded with three runs in the second inning to take a 4-1 advantage. The scoring began when Nathan Burris (Oglesby, Ill.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Michael Tosado (Chicago, Ill.). Johnson followed Burris with a double to left field to drive in Kraemer Brandt (Elk Grove, Ill.). The next batter, Austin Smith (Peru, Ill.) smoked a single into left-center field to plate Johnson from second base. Unfortunately, Thiel was able to respond with the next three runs to tie the game at 4-4 heading into the fifth inning.
Rockford added a run in the fifth when Jose Miranda (Yuma, Ariz.) hit a single up the middle to bring in Logemann from second base to take the lead 5-4. Once again, Thiel responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the fifth to tie the game back up at 5-5.
The score remained the same until the seventh inning when the Regents busted the open by scoring three runs to take the 8-5 advantage. The scoring began when Bryce Hinkelman (Ottawa, Ill.) smashed the first pitch he saw over the right-center field fence for a solo home run. Later in the inning, Johnson came to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered a ground rule double over the right-center field fence to plate two runs. Unfortunately, Thiel scored the final six runs of the game to prevail by the final of 11-8.
On the mound today for the Regents was senior Brady Frank (Freeport, Ill.). Frank went 3 2/3 innings before giving way to Spencer Lentz (Stillman Valley, Ill.). Lentz threw 3 innings, and dealt with a bit of tough luck as only one of the four runs he gave up was earned. Zachary Jones (Rockford, Ill.) and Ben Kolkmeyer (Belvidere, Ill.) rounded out the final 1 1/3 innings pitched.
Leading the Regents offensively was Tyler Johnson going 4-for-5 with a triple, two doubles, a single and three RBI's. Cole Logemann went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Michael Tosado went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Bryce Hinkelman hit a solo home run.
RU has an off day tomorrow and returns to action Tuesday, March 7 to take on Defiance College with a scheduled start time of 8 p.m. CST. in Fort Myers, Fla.
