LISLE, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team's (15-25) season came to a close on Saturday, after the Regents fell 2-1 to Benedictine University (28-12) in the 2021 NACC South Division Tournament. This was the second consecutive day that the Regents came up short in a pitching duel, after dropping a 3-1 game yesterday to Aurora. Rockford starting pitcher Jared Herzog was phenomenal in just his sixth collegiate start. Herzog had a no-hitter through 5.2 innings and did not allow an earned run in the game. In total, Herzog went 6.1 innings, allowing just one hit and a single unearned run. Unfortunately, Benedictine starting pitcher Alexander Schram was also excellent on Saturday. Schram went the distance for the Eagles, surrendering one unearned run over nine innings, to earn the complete game victory.

• Rockford struck first with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. 
• Jared Herzog and Christian Garcia got things started with back-to-back one-out singles into center field.
• One batter later, Herzog advanced to third base on a fielder's choice. He would then score later in the play, after the Eagles committed a throwing error on an attempt to turn a double play. 
• It seemed as through one run may be enough support for RU starting pitcher Jared Herzog. Herzog retired 12 of the next 14 batters, including eight straight at one point, and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. 
• Unfortunately, the Eagles were able to manufacture an unearned run in one of the most unconventional ways you will ever see.
• After a groundout to begin the inning, Jack Surin was able reach base on a Regent throwing error. He then advanced to second on a balk, third on a wild pitch and would score on an RBI groundout, to knot the game at 1-1.
• Rockford's bad luck did not end there though, as the next batter broke up the no-hitter. Damen Castillo tallied the first hit of the game for the Eagles on a dribbler down the third base line, that barely stayed fair and did not even reach third base. However, Herzog was able to retire the next batter and keep the game tied. 
• Benedictine then had a chance to take its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh. Anthony Lenza began the inning with a walk, before working his way over to third on a balk and a groundout. The Regents would then bring in Christian Dahlstrom to try and get out of the jam. Dahlstrom promptly proceeded to strike out the next two batters and end the Benedictine threat. 
• Rockford then had an opportunity of its own to retake the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Christian Garcia began the inning with a walk and advanced to second two batters later on a Troy Tucci single to left. Unfortunately, the next batter grounded into a bizarre 6-4 double play to end the inning and send the game to the eighth. 
• With one out and no one on, Benedictine catcher Jack Surin came up with the biggest hit of the game. Surin belted a solo home run over the left center field wall, to give his team a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. 
• The next five Regent hitters went down in order, before RU catcher Christian Garcia kept the Regents' season alive, with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, the Eagles got the next batter to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game.

• Jared Herzog delivered an outstanding pitching performance in the final game of the season. Herzog went 6.1 innings and took a no-hitter deep into the sixth. He allowed just 1 hit and 1 unearned run during his start. 
• Christian Dahlstrom went the final 2.2 innings of the game. He allowed just 2 hits and 1 run, while striking out 5. 
• Christian Garcia finished 2-for-3 with a walk. 
• Jared Herzog was 1-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. 
• Hunter Fiorito, Troy Tucci and Iszak Mestas all had a hit.