JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Regents opened the season with a pair of convincing wins on Saturday against Robert Morris-Peoria and Central College. Rockford exploded for 26 runs off 25 hits, as the Regents cruised to an easy 26-3 win in their season opener over Robert Morris-Peoria. Rockford's 25 hits were just one shy of tying the single-game school record, while the Regents' 26 runs were only three off the single-game school record. Game two was more of a pitcher's duel, as Rockford went on to defeat Central College by a final score of 5-1. The Regents' pitching staff combined to strike out 18 batters and did not allow a hit through seven innings.

Rockford 26 Robert Morris-Peoria 3

• The Regents scored a single run in the first and added 19 more runs over the next three innings. 
• Hunter Fiorito opened the season with a single into left field, and then stole second and third, before scoring on a throwing error to give Rockford a 1-0 lead. 
• The Eagles were able to string together a trio of hits in the bottom half of the inning, two of which were infield singles, to tie the game at 1-1 after an inning of play. 
• Rockford then exploded for six runs off seven hits in the second to take a commanding 7-1 lead. Christian Garcia jump-started the offense with a solo shot over the left field wall, to put his team back in front 2-1. After hits from Troy Tucci and Iszak Mestas, Hunter Fiorito cleared the bases with a 2-run double to make it a 4-1 game. Two batters later, Corey Saracco drove in a pair of runs with a single to right, extending the Regents' lead to 6-1. Rockford's final run of the inning came off a Jake Bilotta RBI triple into right center. 
• The Regent hit parade continued in the third, with Rockford scoring six more runs off six hits. Troy Tucci got things started with a 2-run home run to left center. A few batters later, Michael Gunter used a sacrifice fly to drive in Iszak Mestas, who had singled earlier in the inning. Rockford's final three runs in the inning came off a three-run home run by Corey Saracco.
• Rockford made it a 20-1 lead after a seven-run fourth inning. Tucci and Mestas opened the frame with a double and a single, to put runners on second and third. A couple of batters later, Jacob Rillamas laced an RBI single into left field. The Regents would tack on two more runs following a pair of Eagle errors and one additional run off a Michael Gunter sacrifice fly. Rockford's final three runs in the inning came courtesy of a Christian Garcia three-run home run. 
• Rockford's final six runs came off a pair of three-run innings in the fifth and seventh. Phil Hyland and Peyton McCray each drew RBI walks in the fifth and Michael Gunter scored on a wild pitch. Kal Fortner and Iszak Mestas each laced RBI singles to center in the seventh, while Dalton Phillips drove in Phil Hyland on a sacrifice fly. 

Rockford 5 Central 1

• Rockford starting pitcher Zack Jones and reliever Carson Balcer stole the show for the Regents in their second game of the day.
• After Rockford went down quietly in the top of the first, Jones took to the mound and struck out the side to keep the game scoreless after one inning of play.
• The Regents scored a trio of runs off two hits and one Dutch error in the top of the second. After Jake Bilotta led off the inning with a single, Rockford took advantage of a throwing error by the first baseman and a subsequent fielding error by the left fielder on the errant throw. The two errors on the same play allowed Bilotta to score and give Rockford a 1-0 lead. Following a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Phil Hyland came through with a clutch two-run single into center, scoring Christian Garcia and Logan Streit.
• Three runs were more than enough for Jones, as he cruised over his final four innings of work. The senior right-hander did not allow a hit or a run through five innings and struck out six additional batters, bringing his total to nine on the day.  
• Reliever Carson Balcer picked up right where Jones left off in the sixth. Balcer entered the game and promptly struck out two of the first three batters he faced and retired the side in order. 
• Balcer then struck out the side in the seventh and took the combined no-hitter into the eighth. 
• Unfortunately, the Dutch crushed a double into center to begin eighth and end Rockford's bid at a no-hitter. However, Rockford was still able to keep the shutout intact, as Balcer picked the runner off second and then struck out the final two batters of the inning, to take a 3-0 lead into the ninth. 
• The RU offense responded with two runs in the top of the ninth to stretch its lead to 5-0. Logan Streit got things going with an RBI triple to make it a 4-0 RU advantage. One batter later, Christian Garcia singled back up the middle, scoring Streit and making it a 5-0 game.
• The Dutch were able to scratch across one run in the bottom of the ninth, but the game was never in doubt, as Rockford secured the 5-1 win. 

Robert Morris-Peoria

• Rockford had seven players with multiple hits, including a trio of four-hit performances. 
• Christian Garcia went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with 2 home runs, 4 runs batted in and 3 runs scored. 
• Troy Tucci also went 4-for-4 at the dish and was just a triple away from the cycle. Tucci had a home run, a double, two singles, 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. 
• Iszak Mestas was 4-for-5 with a double, 4 runs scored, a walk and an RBI. 
• Corey Saracco went 3-for-3 with a game-high 5 runs batted in. Saracco also homered, scored 3 runs and walked twice. 
• Hunter Fiorito went 2-for-4 with a double, 3 runs scored and 2 runs driven in. 
• Dylan Johnson was 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored.
• Logan Streit finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Christian Pearcy picked up the win with five solid innings of work on the mound. Pearcy allowed 2 runs off five hits and struck out 7 to move to 1-0 on the season.
• Clay Goodwin and Jake Schmollinger each tossed one inning in relief. 

Central

• The RU pitching duo of Zack Jones and Carson Balcer allowed just two hits and struck out 18 over their combined nine innings of work. 
• Zack Jones struck out five of the first six batters in the game, including striking out the side in the first. He went on to toss five scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out 9, to move to 1-0 on the season.
• Carson Balcer entered in the sixth and also struck out five of the first six batters he faced, including fanning the side in the seventh. Balcer would allow 1 run off 2 hits, while striking out 9 over his four innings of work and earn his first save of the year.
• Michael Gunter and Jake Bilotta each went 2-for-4, with Bilotta scoring a pair of runs. 
• Christian Garcia was 1-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk.
• Phil Hyland went 1-for-4 with a 2-run single. 
• Logan Streit was 1-for-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.

The RU baseball team returns to action with two more games on Sunday, March 1 in Jacksonville, Illinois. The Regents are set to face Central College at 11 AM and Robert Morris-Peoria at 5 PM.