FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Regents baseball team (7-3) was shutout in both of its games on Thursday against the United States Merchant Marine Academy (2-4) and Wittenberg University (7-2). Senior pitcher Zack Jones was once again brilliant on the mound for the Regents. Jones held the Mariners scoreless through 10 innings before turning the game over to the bullpen in the eleventh. Unfortunately, the USMMA hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the eleventh for the 4-0 win. Rockford was hurt by the big inning in the second game of the day against Wittenberg. The Regents allowed at least three runs in three separate innings and fell by a final score of 11-0. 

Merchant Marine 4 Rockford 0

• Senior starting pitcher Zack Jones was simply outstanding for the third straight start this season. Jones fired ten shutout innings and struck out ten batters while walking none. The senior right-hander retired ten straight batters during the middle innings of his start and was never really in serious trouble while on the mound.
• However, Rockford was unable to scratch a run across in support of Jones. 
• The Regents' best scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth. The Regents put runners on second and third with just one out, following a Hunter Fiorito walk, a Jake Bilotta single and a Mariner error. Unfortunately, the Mariners were able to retire the next two batters in the middle of the Regent lineup and end the threat. 
• The game remained scoreless through ten, as neither team was able to string much of anything together at the plate. 
• However, the USMMA opened the bottom of the eleventh with a leadoff double and immediately put a runner in scoring position with no one out. After a fly out moved the runner to third, Rockford intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases and create a force out at any base. Rockford was able to strikeout the next hitter and get one step closer to escaping the inning. Unfortunately, the very next batter, catcher Jack McCann, cracked a walk-off grand slam to win the game 4-0.

 Wittenberg 11 Rockford 0

• The Regents' bats continued to be silent in Rockford's second game of the day against Wittenberg. 
• Rockford quickly fell behind 3-0 after Wittenberg struck for three runs, two of which were unearned, in the bottom of the first. 
• The Regents finally broke through with their first scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth. Rockford put runners on first and second with just one out after a Tiger error and a Peyton McCray single. Unfortunately, the Tigers struck out the next two batters to end the threat. 
• The Tigers added four more runs in the bottom half of the inning, two of which were again unearned, to give Wittenberg a commanding 7-0 advantage. 
• Wittenberg would then put the game away with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth en route to an 11-0 win.

Merchant Marine

• Zack Jones turned in his third excellent start in as many appearances this season. Jones threw 10 shutout innings and struck out 10 while walking none. Through his first three starts, Jones is 2-0 with a 0.41 earned run average and 35 strikeouts compared to only 3 walks. Over his 22.0 innings thus far this season, Jones has surrendered 0 extra base hits and batters are hitting just .118 against him.
• Jake Bilotta finished 2-for-4 at the plate. 
• Corey Saracco went 1-for-4 with 2 stolen bases.

Wittenberg

• Corey Saracco went 1-for-3.
• Peyton McCray was 1-for-3.
• Hunter Svec retired the side in order in the eighth, including striking out the final batter he faced.
• Clayton Morris did not allow a run over his one inning of work and also struck out the final batter he faced.

The RU baseball team returns to the diamond on Friday, March 13 against Wittenberg University. First pitch is set for 8 AM central time.