BELOIT, Wis. - The Rockford University baseball team dropped its final non-conference game of the season on Wednesday, 16-5, to the Beloit College Buccaneers. The Regents were again done in by the big inning as the Buccaneers scored 12 of their 16 runs in just two innings. The Bucs got off to a quick start using a five-run second inning to jump out to an early 6-0 lead. After the Regents cut the lead down to 6-3 in the top of the fourth, Beloit put the game away with a seven-run fifth en route to a 16-5 win.

Despite falling behind 6-0 after two innings of play, the Regents battled back with three straight runs to cut the deficit in half. Two of the three runs came in the top of the third inning off three Rockford hits. Nathan Burris (Oglesby, Ill.) and Austin Smith (Peru, Ill.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles and to give the Regents their best scoring chance of the game so far. Senior Cole Logemann (Lena, Ill.) would take advantage driving in Rockford's first run of the game with a sacrifice fly. One batter later, Bryce Hinkelman (Ottawa, Ill.) made it a 6-2 game with an RBI single into left. The Regents would had another run in the fourth to cut further into the Buccaneer lead. Patrick O'Malley (Elk Grove, Ill.) and Michael Tosado (Chicago, Ill.) each singled early on in the frame to give the Regents runners on the corners with just one out. One batter later, Burris drove in O'Malley on a fielder's choice to pull the Regents back within three runs. 

Unfortunately things quickly went downhill over the next three innings as Beloit scored ten unanswered runs to take a commanding 16-3 lead. Rockford would add two additional runs in the seventh courtesy of a Jose Miranda (Yuma, Ariz.) RBI single and a Mitchell Gorsuch (Cherry Valley, Ill.) sacrifice fly, but it was not enough as the Buccaneers won by a final score of 16-5. 

Rockford was able to hit the ball fairly well recording 12 hits in the game including four multi-hit performances. Britton Seivert (Rockford, Ill.) and Austin Smith each went 2-for-4 with Smith scoring two runs and Seivert recording a double. Bryce Hinkelman and Jose Miranda both were 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The RU baseball team is set to play its final two home games of the season on Saturday, April 29 against Lakeland University. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2:00 PM at Rivets Stadium.