LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team (10-22, 2-12 NACC) split Saturday's doubleheader against the Dominican University Stars (9-22, 4-10 NACC). Rockford played well in the first game with a surge of offense mixed with a great pitching effort to defeat the Stars 9-4. However, game two was tied until the fifth inning when Dominican broke it open with an eight-run fifth inning going on to win 15-4.
Game 1: Rockford 9 Dominican 4
- Rockford got things started in the first inning scoring three runs to take an early lead over Dominican. Hunter Fiorito scored from a wild pitch, Phil Hyland singled to left field driving in Jared Herzog and Hyland later came in to score taking an advantage of a run down.
- The Stars chipped away in the next three innings scoring one in the second, two in the third and taking the lead in the fourth with a run while holding the Regents to lead 4-3 going into the fifth inning.
- The Regents regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Christian Garcia hit a big two-out two-run homer to left field.
- With Rockford leading 5-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, Hunter Fiorito led off the inning with a line-drive homer to straightaway center field giving the Regents a 6-4 lead.
- The Regents added on in the eighth with Troy Tucci scoring from an error, Peyton McCray scoring from a ground ball double play and Tyler Peake scoring from Jared Herzog's single to left field.
- That was all the Regents needed, holding the Stars to no more runs and taking game one 9-4.
Game 2: Dominican 15 Rockford 4 (8 innings)
- Rockford got on the board early with Phil Hyland hitting a single to right field scoring Hunter Fiorito to take a one-run lead in the first inning.
- The Stars quickly answered, scoring in the second inning to tie the game with a sacrifice fly.
- Dominican took the lead in the third inning scoring one run from a single to right field.
- However, the Regents tied it in the bottom of the third when Christian Garcia singled to right field scoring Zach Hunter.
- Unfortunately, things started to unravel fast for the Regents in the fifth inning. Costly pitching mishaps led to the Stars being able to score eight runs in the top of the fifth.
- Rockford pushed across two more runs in the seventh inning, but with Dominican scoring two in the sixth, one in the seventh and two in the eighth made for a tough comeback.
- The Regents dropped game two to the Stars 15-4.
Game 1
- Christian Garcia went 2 for 4 with a homer, 2 RBI's and a run scored.
- Hunter Fiorito went 1 for 4 with a homer, 2 runs scored and an RBI.
- Jared Herzog went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, 2 stolen bases and an RBI.
- Zach Hunter went 2 for 4.
- Christian Pearcy picked up his second win of the season pitching a 9 inning complete game with 11 strikeouts giving up 4 runs.
Game 2
The RU baseball team returns to the field Sunday, May 2 at Dominican University. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12 PM. No visiting fans will be allowed due to COVID-19 safety protocols.
