FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University baseball team (2-2) fell 18-8 on Wednesday afternoon to the Thiel College Tomcats (3-1). The game was ultimately decided in the fourth inning, when the Tomcats exploded for ten runs. Rockford was able to put up a valiant fight with seven runs over the final two innings, including a grand slam off the bat of
Aaron Monti, but unfortunately, the comeback effort fell short.
- Rockford opened the game with a single run in the top of the first inning to take a quick 1-0 lead. Jake Bilotta and Joseph Stagowski got things started with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no one out. Two batters later, Neil Freeman drove in Bilotta on a fielder's choice, to give Rockford a 1-0 advantage.
- Unfortunately, the Tomcats responded with four runs off six hits in the bottom half of the frame to jump out in front 4-1.
- The score remained 4-1 until the bottom of the fourth, when Thiel broke the game wide open with a ten-run inning. Thiel needed just seven hits to score its ten runs, including a grand slam off the bat of Jamin Wentling, to take a commanding 14-4 lead.
- The Tomcats tacked on an additional run in the fifth and three more in the sixth, extending their advantage to 18-1.
- Rockford was able to use a six-run eighth to at least partially chip away at the deficit. Jonathan Leon singled and Peyton McCray and Gio Lucchetto each walked to load the bases to begin the frame. Richie Garcia was then hit by a pitch to force in the first run of the inning. One batter later, Aaron Monti crushed a grand slam over the left center field wall for his first collegiate home run. Rockford added one more run later on in the inning thanks to a Tomcat error, to make it an 18-7 ballgame.
- The Regents tacked on an additional run in the ninth off a Joseph Stagowski RBI single, but it was not enough, as Rockford fell by a final score of 18-8.
- Aaron Monti finished 2-for-3 with a home run, 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
- Joseph Stagowski went 2-for-4 with 2 walks and an RBI.
- Hunter Svec threw 2.2 shutout innings in relief. Svec allowed just 1 hit and struck out 1 in his appearance.
