ROCKFORD, Ill.- The Rockford University baseball team returned to action today to take on Beloit College in a non-conference game. The Regents aimed to carry some momentum from the past weekend when they won three of four games. Both team saw a great pitchers duel ensue until Rockford was able to outlast Beloit with a walk-off hit in the 11th inning. The Regents won by the final score of 2-1.
Starting on the mound for Rockford was Chad Thompson (Morton Grove, Ill.). Thompson was great throwing 5+ innings allowing 1 earned run while striking out 3 batters. Following him was Zachary Jones (Rockford, Ill.) who threw 3 outstanding innings of relief allowing 0 runs on only 1 hit while striking out 3. Jones gave way to Thomas Bolen (Tucson, Ariz.) who shut down the Buccaneers going the final 3 innings allowing 0 runs on 3 hits. Bolen earned his second victory of the season with the outstanding effort. The three pitchers did an outstanding job of keeping the Regents in the game before the offense could manufacture some runs.
In the first inning Beloit was able to take the early 1-0 lead. For the first eight innings of the game both offenses were held in check by the great pitching from both teams. However, in the ninth inning Bryce Hinkelman (Ottawa, Ill.) led off the inning with an absolute shot over the left field wall to tie the game at 1-1. Hinkelman's home run forced the game into extra innings. After neither team could score in the tenth, the Regents got leadoff man Tyler Johnson (Chicago, Ill.) on base by a hit by pitch and was moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt from Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.). After Hinkelman was intentionally walked, Jose Miranda (Yuma, Ariz.) scorched the walk-off RBI double off the right field wall to drive in Johnson. The walk-off hit was the first of Miranda's career. Ultimately, Rockford had prevailed 2-1.
Leading the Regents offensively were Bryce Hinkelman who went 3-for-4 with the game-tying home run and a walk. Cole Logemann went 2-for-4 on the day with the well-executed sacrifice bunt in the 11th inning. Logemann is now 20-for-36 in his past eight games, good for a .556 batting average. Tyler Johnson, Jose Miranda, and Mitchell Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill.) each added a hit in the game.
RU returns to action Saturday, April 15 to take on Dominican University in NACC doubleheader at Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg, Ill. with a scheduled start time of 2 p.m.
