LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team (5-4) swept the Lakeland University Muskies (2-5) Friday with both games going into extra innings. The Regents won game one 11-10 in 10 innings from a walk-off walk. Rockford also won game two 9-5 in 10 innings with a walk-off grand slam by Christian Garcia.
Game 1: Rockford 11 Lakeland 10 (10 innings)
- Rockford got things started in the bottom of the second inning by scoring three runs to take a 3-0 lead against the Muskies. Jordin Lee hit a sacrifice fly to right-field to score Peyton McCray. Phil Hyland grounded out to the pitcher to score Caleb Randolph. Jared Herzog hit a single to left-center to score Zach Hunter.
- The Muskies answered by scoring two runs in the third inning off a single to center-field and a ground out.
- The Regent bats stayed hot scoring four runs in the bottom of the third. Caleb Randolph reached first base on a throwing error that allowed Troy Tucci to score. Zach Hunter singled through the right side to score Iszak Mestas. Jordin Lee singled up the middle to bring in Caleb Randolph. Jared Herzog hit a single to left-field scoring Zach Hunter on the play.
- Both teams scored two runs in the fifth inning. Lakeland's two runs came off a homer to left-field and Rockford's two runs came from a double roped to right-center by Phil Hyland to score Caleb Randolph and Peyton McCray.
- With the Regents leading 9-4, the Muskies were able to score four runs in the seventh inning and two runs in the ninth inning while holding Rockford scoreless to take a 10-9 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
- Rockford tied it at 10-10 in the bottom of the ninth with Jared Herzog's single through the right side to score Tyler Peake and keep the Regents alive.
- With two outs and the bases loaded in the tenth inning, Jordin Lee drew a walk to score Iszak Mestas allowing the Regents to claim victory 11-10.
Game 2: Rockford 9 Lakeland 5 (10 innings)
- Christian Pearcy tossed a solid 6.1 innings, holding the Muskies for most of the game not allowing a run until the seventh inning.
- Once again the Regents would start things off on the offensive side of the ball by scoring Hunter Fiorito with Phil Hyland's double down the right-field line.
- Rockford struck again in the third inning when Christian Garcia grounded out to score Jared Herzog and take a 2-0 lead.
- In the bottom of the fourth, the Regents increased its lead to 4-0 when Christian Garcia singled up the middle to score Phil Hyland and Hunter Fiorito.
- Both teams were held scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings with solid defense and exceptional pitching.
- However, the seventh inning proved to be trouble for the Regents when the Muskies put up five runs to take a 5-4 lead.
- The Regents quickly tied it at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh with a sacrifice fly to right-field by Peyton McCray to score Jordin Lee. But Rockford was forced to go into extra innings as both teams could not score in the eighth and ninth innings.
- In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Regents were able to load the bases with one out for Christian Garcia.
- Christian Garcia hit a mammoth walk-off grand slam down the left-field line to put the Muskies away and secure the win 9-5 for the Regents.
- Kerrick Jones was dealing on the mound for the Regents, recording his first career win pitching the last 3.1 innings giving up no hits and no runs with two strikeouts.
Game 1:
Game 2:
The Rockford University baseball team returns to the field Sunday, March 28 at Concordia University Wisconsin. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 PM.
