FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Rockford University baseball team returned to action in their second game of the day against Bluffton University. The Regents were searching for their second victory of the day. Rockford had their hands full in undefeated Bluffton. However, the Regents were able to use a six run seventh inning to boost them to victory by the final of 8-2.
Both teams were held scoreless until Rockford was able to crack the scoring when Jose Miranda (Yuma, Ariz.) destroyed a pitch over the right field wall for his first collegiate home run. The Regents were then able to rattle off three straight hits from Patrick O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.), Britton Seivert (Rockford, Ill.) and Kyle Rothrock (Utica, Ill.). After Rothrock's RBI single through the right side drove in O'Malley from second base, Rockford had an early 2-0 advantage.
In the sixth inning Bluffton got the bases loaded with nobody out and one run in to knock out Rockford starter Thomas Bolen (Tucson, Ariz.). However, Chad Thompson (Morton Grove, Ill.) shut down the Beavers to record the final three outs in a row to withhold the 2-1 lead. After Bluffton was able to tack on another run in the seventh, Rockford was able to put the game out of reach with six runs in the bottom half of the inning.
The scoring began when Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) hit an RBI double into left field to plate Nathan Burris (Oglesby, Ill.) from second base. Bryce Hinkelman (Ottawa, Ill.) followed Logemann with an RBI single to right-center field to drive in Tyler Johnson (Chicago, Ill.) from second base. After a Bluffton error allowed another Rockford run to cross the plate, Bluffton could not find the strikezone. As the Regents led 5-2, the Beavers allowed three straight walks to give the Regents an insurmountable lead at 8-2. Rockford would not allow another run as they won by the final of 8-2.
On the mound for the Regents was Thomas Bolen. He threw 5 innings allowing 1 run, 0 earned, on 6 hits and striking out 4. Bolen was terrific through the first five innings of the game. He gave way to Chad Thompson in the sixth inning. Thompson threw very well going 3 innings allowing 1 run, on 2 hits and striking out 4. Thompson earned his first victory of the season with the solid outing. Ben Kolkmeyer (Belvidere, Ill.) completed the final frame in 1-2-3 fashion to solidify yet another strong performance from the Regent pitching staff.
Offensively, Britton Seivert led the team with a multi-hit effort going 2-for-5. Jose Miranda went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and a hit by pitch. Tyler Johnson went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two walks.
RU returns to action for their final game of the spring trip Wednesday, March 8 to take on Swarthmore College in Fort Myers, Fla. with a scheduled start time of 8 a.m. CST.
