CHICAGO, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team (9-17, 1-7 NACC) picked up a split on the road Saturday afternoon against the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks (10-6, 5-5 NACC). Game one was a typical pitchers' duel, with both starters pitching extremely effectively throughout their outings. Rockford's Christian Pearcy gave up just two earned runs over his 7.1 innings of work, while Illinois Tech's Austin Richardson allowed one earned run over 6.2 innings. However, the game ultimately came down to Rockford's ability to scratch across three runs over the final two innings and secure a 4-3 comeback win. Unfortunately, game two belonged to the Scarlet Hawks. Illinois Tech scored in five of the eight innings en route to a 10-1 win.
Game 1:
- Rockford struck first with a single run in the top of the first inning.
- Jared Herzog got things started with a one-out single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
- One batter later, Christian Garcia laced an RBI double into left center, scoring Herzog, and making it a 1-0 game.
- Both the Regents and Scarlet Hawks had golden opportunities to score in the third but came up empty.
- Hunter Fiorito led off the inning with a double and then stole third. However, he was ultimately left stranded there.
- Illinois Tech opened its half of the frame with back-to-back singles and then stole third, to put runners on the corners with no one out.
- Fortunately, Christian Pearcy struck out two of the next three batters to end the threat and keep it a 1-0 Regent lead.
- The Scarlet Hawks were able to break through with two runs in the fourth. Illinois Tech took advantage of a leadoff walk and then used back-to-back two-out hits to plate a pair of runs and take its first lead of the game.
- The score would remain unchanged until the eighth inning, when both teams were able to score.
- Christian Garcia and Phil Hyland strung together a double and single, to put runners on second and third with only one out.
- One batter later, TJ Jones singled, scoring Garcia, and tying the game at 2-2.
- Iszak Mestas then drove in Hyland on a RBI groundout, to give Rockford a 3-2 advantage.
- Rockford's lead was short lived though, as Illinois Tech scored an unearned run in the home half of the inning, to knot the game at 3-3.
- Fortunately, the Regents answered right back with an unearned run of their own in the top of the ninth. Rockford took advantage of an error and a Hunter Fiorito single, to put runners on the corners with one out. One batter later, the Regents took a 4-3 lead via a Jared Herzog RBI groundout.
- Christian Dahlstrom then slammed the door shut in the bottom of the ninth, to give Rockford its first NACC win of the season.
Game 2:
- The Regents again struck first with a run in the top of the first inning.
- Hunter Fiorito began the game with a single and then advanced to second when Jared Herzog was hit by a pitch.
- One batter later, Christian Garcia crushed an RBI single into left, scoring Fiorito, and giving Rockford a 1-0 advantage.
- Unfortunately, Illinois Tech retired the next two batters, to strand both of the remaining Regent base runners.
- The Scarlet Hawks then took their first lead in game two in the bottom of the second. Illinois Tech capitalized on a walk and a two-out, two-run home run, to grab a 2-1 lead.
- Illinois Tech added two more runs in the fifth off back-to-back home runs, to extend its lead to 4-1.
- Rockford had a chance to cut into the IIT lead in the top of the sixth. Phil Hyland got things started with a one-out single. The Regents then took advantage of a Scarlet Hawk error, which put runners on first and second with still only one out. Two batters later, Jordin Lee walked to load the bases. Unfortunately, Illinois Tech was able to induce a popout to end the threat.
- For that moment forward, the game belonged to the Scarlet Hawks. Illinois Tech added a run in the sixth, three in the seventh and two in the eighth en route to a 10-1 win.
Game 1:
- Christian Pearcy had one of his best performances of the season on Saturday. Pearcy went 7.1 innings, scattering 8 hits and allowing just 2 earned runs. He also struck out 5 while only walking 1.
- Christian Dahlstrom threw the final 1.2 innings to pick up the win and move to 3-2 this season. He allowed just 1 hit and no runs, while striking out 3.
- Christian Garcia was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored.
- Hunter Fiorito went 2-for-5 with a double.
- Jared Herzog, TJ Jones and Iszak Mestas all drove in a run.
Game 2:
The RU baseball team returns home on Sunday, April 25 against Illinois Tech. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon at Rivets Stadium.
