EUREKA, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team (8-20) fell 6-3 on the road Wednesday afternoon to the Eureka College Red Devils (11-18). Rockford never led in the game, as the Regents fell behind 5-0 after two innings of play. However, Kyle Waugh (Waseca, Minn.) did belt his fifth home run of the season, which ties him for the fourth most in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
- The Red Devils scored two runs in the first and three in the second to jump out to a quick 5-0 lead.
- Rockford responded with a pair of runs in the third to pull back within three. Dylan Johnson (Rockford, Ill.) and Hunter Fiorito (Batavia, Ill.) strung together a double and a single to put runners on the corners with no one out. One batter later, Corey Saracco (Montgomery, Ill.) laced an RBI single into right, to score Johnson and make it a 5-1 game. Saracco would then steal second to put runners on second and third with just one out. Michael Gunter (Maricopa, Ariz.) followed with a sacrifice fly to score Fiorito and make it a 5-2 Red Devil lead.
- The Regents had a chance in the fourth to further cut into the lead. Troy Tucci (Wood Dale, Ill.) ripped a double to left center to put himself in scoring position with less than two outs. Unfortunately, Eureka struck out the next two batters to end the inning and maintain its three-run advantage.
- The Red Devils then extended their lead to 6-2 after scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth.
- Rockford answered with a single run in the top of the sixth when Kyle Waugh crushed a solo home run over the left field wall.
- The Regents had one final scoring opportunity in the top of the eighth. Michael Gunter singled and then stole second to put a runner in scoring position with no one out. However, Rockford was unable to come up with a key hit, as the Red Devils wiggled out of the jam en route to the 6-3 win.
- Junior left-handed pitcher Joseph Kmiec (Bolingbrook, Ill.) threw exceptionally well in relief. Kmiec allowed just one unearned run over his 4.2 innings of work and retired the final ten batters he faced. The lefty allowed just two hits, while striking out four and walking none.
- Kyle Waugh finished 1-for-4 with a solo home run. Waugh is now tied for fourth in the NACC with five home runs.
- Corey Saracco was 1-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
- Michael Gunter went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
- Joseph Kmiec was outstanding on the mound in relief. Kmiec allowed just one unearned run off two hits over his 4.2 innings of work. The left-hander also struck out four and retired the final ten batters he faced.
The RU baseball team returns to action on Saturday, April 27 at Wisconsin Lutheran College. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon.
