MONTGOMERY, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team (15-24) dropped a tough 3-1 pitching duel against the top-seeded Aurora University Spartans (33-6) to begin the NACC South Division Tournament. Rockford starting pitcher Christian Pearcy was absolutely brilliant on the mound for the Regents today. Pearcy held the top-ranked offense in the NACC to only two earned runs over his seven plus innings of work. Unfortunately, Aurora starting pitcher Nick Malmberg surrendered just a single unearned run over his eight innings on the hill, to help lead Aurora to the win. 

• The Spartans struck first with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. Aurora had just one hit in the frame, but capitalized on a costly Rockford error to grab an early 1-0 lead. 
• Aurora would then tack on another run off two hits in the bottom of the second. The Spartans opened the inning with back-to-back singles and then moved the lead runner to third on a fielder's choice. The Spartans would then hit sacrifice fly to score a run and take a 2-0 advantage. 
• RU starting pitcher Christian Pearcy was able to get into a rhythm and hold the high-powered Spartan offense scoreless over the next five innings. Pearcy only allowed multiple batters to reach in one of those innings and struck out the side in the seventh. 
• After mustering just one hit through the first six innings, it seemed as though the Regents might finally be able to get on the board in the seventh. Christian Garcia and Phil Hyland strung together back-to-back one-out singles to put runners on first and second. Unfortunately, the Spartans retired the next two batters to wiggle out of the jam and maintain their 2-0 lead.  
• However, the Rockford offense was finally able to break through with a single run in the eighth. After two quick outs to begin the inning, Ryan Smith reached via a Spartan error. One batter later, Hunter Fiorito crushed an RBI double over the right fielder's head, to make it a 2-1 game.
• Unfortunately, Aurora got that run right back in the bottom half of the inning. The Spartans used a trio of hits to score their run and take a 3-1 lead into the ninth. 
• Phil Hyland kept the Regents' comeback hopes alive in the ninth with a one-out double into right center field. However, the Spartans would retire the next two batters to end the threat and secure the 3-1 win. 

• Christian Pearcy was outstanding on the mound for the Regents on Friday. Pearcy went 7 plus innings and allowed just 2 earned runs against the top offense in the conference. He also struck out 5 batters, including all three outs in the seventh. 
• Phil Hyland accounted for three of Rockford's five hits. Hyland finished 3-for-5 with a double. 
• Hunter Fiorito was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
• Christian Garcia went 1-for-4. 

The RU baseball team returns to the diamond on Saturday, May 15 in an elimination game against the No. 2 seed, Benedictine University. First pitch is scheduled for 10 AM at Benedictine University.