ROCKFORD, Ill.- The Rockford University baseball team returned to action today to take on Concordia University Chicago in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader. The Regents had a tough challenge against the Cougars who came into the game in first-place in the NACC standings. Rockford was up to the challenge prevailing in the first game 3-2, but dropping the second 9-2.
In game one both teams displayed solid pitching and defense as both teams only had one run through the first five innings. However, it was the Regents who struck first when Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) destroyed a ball over the left field wall for a solo home run in the third inning. Thus, giving Rockford the lead 1-0 heading into the fourth. In the sixth inning CUC was able to add two runs to take a 2-1 lead. The Cougars took advantage of a costly Regent error. However, in the seventh inning Mitchell Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill.) hit a two-run single into left-center field to drive in both Logemann and Bryce Hinkelman (Ottawa, Ill.). Rockford took the 3-2 lead and never allowed Concordia to score again, prevailing by the final of 3-2.
Starting on the mound in game one was Joseph Valdez (Tucson, Ariz.). Valdez threw five strong innings giving up three hits allowing only one run while striking out 4. Next up in relief was Spencer Lentz (Stillman Valley, Ill.). Lentz was effective in relief throwing two innings allowing only one run on one hit while striking out two. He was able to pitch well enough to earn his first victory in a Regent uniform. Closing out the game was Thomas Bolen (Tucson, Ariz.). Bolen threw two innings allowing only two hits to earn his second save of the season.
In game two the Regents were more careless in the field committing five errors, which led to four unearned runs in the game. The scoring began with CUC scoring the first seven runs of the game through the first five innings. In the sixth RU got on the board when Hinkelman smoked an RBI double off the left field wall to plate Tyler Johnson (Chicago, Ill.). After the Cougars added a run in the seventh to extend their lead to 8-1, the Regents responded with their own run in the seventh. The run came when Nathan Burris (Oglesby, Ill.) brought in Britton Seivert (Rockford, Ill.) with an RBI single to center field. Unfortunately, Rockford was unable to manufacture any other runs and fell by the final of 9-2.
On the mound in game two was Chad Thompson (Morton Grove, Ill.). Thompson threw four innings allowing five runs and only two were earned. Christian Pearcy (Tucson, Ariz.) was first up in relief and threw three innings allowing three earned runs. Joe Preston (Touhy, Neb.) finished the game completing two innings allowing without allowing a baserunner.
Leading Rockford offensively were Cole Logemann who went 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and a walk in the first game. Bryce Hinkelman went 3-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored on the day. Mitchell Gorsuch went 2-for-5 with the game-winning two-run double in the first game.
The Rockford University baseball team returns to action tomorrow, April 23 to take on Illinois Tech at Rivets Stadium with a scheduled start time of 3 p.m.
