FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Rockford University baseball team returned to action today after an off day Monday for two games. In the first game Rockford took on Defiance College. Both teams were locked in a pitcher's duel throughout the game as the game lasted just 1 hour and 45 minutes. The Regents were also aiming to get back on track after two losses on Sunday. Rockford earned their fourth victory of the season with outstanding pitching and clutch hitting. The Regents won by the final of 2-1.
After an unearned run in the first inning, David Camacho (Elk Grove, Ill.) settled in and threw an absolute masterpiece to earn his second victory of the season. Camacho was incredibly efficient throwing 77 strikes in 100 pitches total. He retired 11 batters in a row until a single in the sixth inning, than responded with 7 straight retired batters after the single. Camacho fought threw a couple of Rockford errors to finish the outstanding outing and record the third complete game in his career. He finished the game throwing 9 innings allowing 5 hits, 1 run, 0 earned, while striking out 6 without recording a walk. Camacho now moves to 2-0 on the young season.
Offensively, the Regents had some very timely hits. Their first scoring opportunity came in the second inning when Patrick O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.) hit an RBI single up the middle to drive in Mitchell Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill.) from second base. The run brought the game back to a tie ball game at 1-1. After multiple innings where Rockford would put together a hit or a walk, they could not manufacture any runs until the eighth inning. As the score remained 1-1 until the Regents added the game-winning run in the eighth. The run came when Bryce Hinkelman (Ottawa, Ill.) delivered the game-winning hit with an RBI single through the left side to plate Josh Bergbreiter (Elk Grove, Ill.) from second base. Rockford took the 2-1 advantage and would not allow a run again stranding two Defiance runners in the ninth inning. RU won by the final of 2-1.
Leading the Regents offensively was Patrick O'Malley going 3-for-4 with an RBI single. Bryce Hinkelman went 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI single. Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) went 1-for-3 and drew a walk.
RU returns to action this morning against Bluffton University in Fort Myers, Fla. with a scheduled start time of 11:45 a.m. EST.
