FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University baseball team (2-0) opened the season with a pair of impressive wins on Monday over the University of Pittsburg at Bradford (0-4) and Alvernia University (2-5-1). It was a tale of two completely different games, with the Rockford pitching staff shining in game one and the Regent offense putting together a brilliant performance in game two. Jared Herzog and Neil Freeman combined to allow just four hits and a single unearned run, to help propel the Regents to an easy 6-1 win over Pitt.-Bradford in the opener. Game two was a high-scoring affair that saw the Regent bats pound out 14 hits and 9 runs, as Rockford picked up a 9-8 comeback win over Alvernia. Eight different Regents had at least one hit in the game, including five multi-hit efforts, led by a 3-for-5 performance from Joseph Stagowski.


Rockford 6 Pitt.-Bradford 1 

• Rockford needed just one hit to plate a pair of runs in the top of the first inning and jump out to a quick 2-0 lead. The Regents got things started with a pair of one-out walks to put runners on first and second. One batter later, Neil Freeman ripped a 2-run double over the center fielder's head to give his team the lead. 
• Two runs turned out to be more than enough support for RU starting pitcher Jared Herzog. Herzog surrendered just two hits over his six shutout innings and did not allow a runner past second base. 
• The Regents added two more runs off three hits in the top of the fifth, to extend their lead to 4-0. Following a leadoff walk and a single to center by Jonathan Leon, Ryan Smith laced an RBI single through the left side of the infield to make it a 3-0 Rockford lead. Rockford tacked on one more run later in the frame, off a Jake Bilotta sacrifice fly. 
• Rockford would essentially put the game out of reach with its third two-run inning of the day in the top of the eighth. Aaron Monti reached base via an infield single and then scored one batter later on a Neil Freeman RBI double down the left field line. The Regents added one more unearned run later in the inning to make it 6-0 courtesy of a Panther error. 
• The Rockford bullpen closed the game allowing just a single unearned run over the final three innings. Neil Freeman went all three frames, allowing just two hits and earning his first save of the season. 

Rockford 9 Alvernia 8 

• The Regents walked a pair of batters and hit two more in the top of the first, to quickly fall behind 1-0 after one-half inning of play. 
• Rockford's Joseph Stagowski answered back in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run over the left field wall to knot the game at 1-1.
• The back and forth nature of the game continued in the third inning when the Golden Wolves retook the lead. Alvernia scored a single run off one hit and took advantage of costly Regent error to pull back in front, 2-1. 
• Alvernia's lead was short lived though, as Rockford responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame. Following a leadoff walk and a Joseph Stagowski single, Jared Herzog smacked a two-run double to center field, to give Rockford its first lead of the game. 
• Unfortunately, things began to unravel it bit for the Regents defensively in the top of the fourth inning. Rockford committed four straight errors to start the inning, which lead to four unearned runs for the Golden Wolves and a 6-3 Alvernia advantage.
• However, the RU offense answered the call with a trio of runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 6-6. Tyler Peake and Jake Bilotta reached safely via a single and a walk to put runners on the corners with one out. One batter later, Joseph Stagowski drove in his second run of the game, this one off an RBI double to left center, to make it 6-4. Jared Herzog would then tie the game with a 2-run single to center field. 
• The Golden Wolves would answer with another run in the top of the fifth to once again retake the lead. Alvernia used a pair of hit batsmen and a sacrifice fly to score yet another run in an inning without recording a hit. 
• Fortunately, for the third straight inning, Rockford responded with a run of its own to tie the game. Tyler Peake got things started with a two-out bunt single, and then Jake Bilotta drove in Peake with an RBI triple to make it a 7-7 ballgame. 
• The Regents were finally able to hold the Golden Wolves scoreless in the top of the sixth and then retake the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Neil Freeman got the two-run rally started with his third double of the season. After a walk and a Jonathan Leon single, the Regents capitalized on an Alverina error to score the first run of the inning and grab an 8-7 advantage. One batter later, Peyton McCray made it 9-7 on a sacrifice fly to right field. 
• A two-run lead proved to be enough for the RU bullpen and right-hander Christian Dahlstrom. Dahlstrom went the final three innings, scattering three hits, including a solo home run in the eighth, to pick up his first save of the year. He did find himself in a bit of a jam in each of the three innings, but was able to work his way out of it each time, including striking out the final batter of the game with the tying run on second base.

Pitt.-Bradford

• Jared Herzog was brilliant on the mound in his first start of the season. Herzog tossed 6 shutout innings, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 5 batters. 
• Neil Freeman went the final 3 innings to earn his first save of the 2022 campaign. Freeman allowed an unearned run off 2 hits and struck out 4 hitters. He also went 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of doubles, a run scored and three runs driven in. 
• Jonathan Leon finished 3-for-5 with a run scored.
• Ryan Smith was 2-for-4 at the plate.
• Jake Bilotta went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Alvernia

• Joseph Stagowski was a triple away from the cycle. Stagowski finished 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, 3 runs scored and 2 runs batted in.
• Jared Herzog finished 2-for-5 with a double and 4 RBIs. 
• Tyler Peake was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored.
• Neil Freeman went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
• Logan List picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the season. List pitched 2 innings in relief, allowing a run off no hits and striking out 2 batters. 
• Christian Dahlstrom earned his first save of the season. Dahlstrom went 3 innings, surrendering a run off 3 hits while fanning 5 hitters. 

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