LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team (10-11) won an extra-innings thriller against state-line opponent Beloit College (13-15) by a score of 6-5 on Thursday night. The Regents put together a strong 5-1 lead by the third inning and looked to be in control, but the Buccaneers slowly chipped away and tied the game before the ninth inning, forcing extras. It took a very strong pitching outing from
Christian Dahlstrom to keep Beloit from scoring while the RU offense worked for the winning run. The Regents got the winning run in the 13th inning, thanks to a passed ball, to win by a final score of 6-5.
- Beloit started the contest with a couple of baserunners but could not get a run across the plate. The Regents came up in the bottom of the first and managed to load the bases. Unfortunately, they only capitalized on a sacrifice fly to get the scoring started. Rockford led after one inning, 1-0.
- Beloit was able to even the score again in the top of the second, getting a run across from a wild pitch that led to an error. Rockford came up hoping to take the lead back.
- The Regents had to wait until the third before they finally got the lead back. Jared Herzog hit a single that scored Jake Bilotta from second base to get the score to 2-1. After two straight outs, Jonathan Leon put a single through the left side to score Joseph Stagowski. Finally, Peyton McCray hit a double to score two additional runs to extend the lead further to 5-1.
- Beloit held the Rockford offense for the next few innings as they slowly chipped away at the Regents lead. Managing to score a run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, a pair of doubles to score two in the sixth, and a run on a wild pitch in the seventh to tie the game. Beloit managed to come all the way back to tie the game at 5.
- It became a pitcher's duel for the eighth and ninth innings, but the Regents managed to capitalize on a walk, dropped third strike error, and an intentional walk to load the bases with two outs. unfortunately the next Rockford batter struck out and both teams headed into extra innings.
- Extra innings turned into a very back-and-forth pitching duel between a pair of Buccaneers pitchers and Christian Dahlstrom, who finished his first win of the season with five innings pitched and ten strikeouts, while only allowing two hits and one walk.
- It took until the bottom of the 13th inning to decide the game. Jonathan Leon walked to open the half-inning, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Bradey Franks hit a one-out single that moved Leon, the winning run, up to third base. The Regents got their break shortly after, a miscue on a passed ball allowed Jonathan Leon to come home and slide in to end the game. Rockford was the winner at home by a score of 6-5.
- Christian Dahlstrom recorded his first win by throwing 5 innings and finishing with 10 strikeouts. He also only allowed 2 hits and only walked one batter.
- Peyton McCray was 1-for-5 with a double and a team-high 2 RBIs.
- Jake Bilotta finished 2-for-4 with a double. He scored twice and recorded 3 walks.
- Jonathan Leon was 1-for-4 with 2 walks and an RBI. Leon also scored twice, including the winning run on a passed ball.
