FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University baseball team (7-0) won its third game in Florida 5-4 against Hiram College (2-2). The Regents are now 7-0 on the season by winning today's close game. Rockford and Hiram were tied 4-4 until Christian Garcia came up in the bottom of the ninth with bases loaded and got hit by the pitch to give the Regents the win. Logan Streit played exceptionally well leading the Regents to victory. Streit went 3-4 with a double and two RBI's. Rockford battled back from being down two to nothing after the second inning, going up 3-2 after the fourth inning. Hiram came back to take the lead 4-3 after the fifth inning, but Rockford scored one run in the seventh to tie it and finished it off in the bottom of the ninth.
- Rockford went down quietly in the first. However, the Regents found themselves in trouble after Hiram hit a double down the left-field line to score the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. Hiram was not done, going on to score one more run on a ground out to lead 2-0 after the top of the second inning.
- The Regents quickly answered scoring two runs in the bottom of the third to tie Hiram 2-2. Logan Streit hustled to beat out a double play to score Iszak Mestas and Jake Bilotta hit a single to drive in Hunter Fiorito.
- Hiram went scoreless in the top of the fourth inning. During the bottom of the fourth inning, Phil Hyland reached first base on a throwing error and advanced to second on the error. Hunter Fiorito hit a rocket up the middle to score Hyland and take the lead 3-2.
- Rockford's lead was cut short in the top of the fifth when Hiram singled through the left side to score two runs and take a 4-3 lead.
- The Regents were held to no runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Rockford shutdown Hiram in the top of the seventh with Hiram still leading 4-3. Logan Streit came up in the bottom of the seventh with one out and ripped a double to the right-center gap to score Michael Gunter, tieing the game 4-4.
- In the ninth inning, the game was still tied 4-4. Rockford was up to bat in the bottom of the ninth. Troy Tucci started the rally by singling up the middle. Michael Gunter walked to put runners on first and second with no outs for the Regents. Logan Streit laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Hiram intentionally walked Jake Bilotta to load the bases for a double-play opportunity. Christian Garcia came up to the plate and took one for the team, getting hit to complete the walk-off hit-by-pitch for the Regents to win 5-4.
- Rockford strung together the pitching performance, using four different pitchers with Carson Balcer getting his first win of the season and first win as a Regent.
The baseball team returns to the diamond on Tuesday, March 10 against Carroll. First pitch is scheduled for 8 AM central time in Fort Myers, Florida.
