FRANKLIN, Wis. - The Rockford University baseball team (7-7, 2-4 NACC) dropped both games of its doubleheader on Saturday afternoon to the Marian University Sabres (7-9, 3-3 NACC). The Rockford offense struggled to get much of anything going in either game. Rockford scored just one run off seven hits in the opener and then plated a trio of runs off a
Neil Freeman three-run home run in the nightcap. RU starting pitcher
Jared Herzog turned in another solid performance in game one. Herzog allowed just one run over the first seven innings, before surrendering a trio of runs in the eighth. Marian got a pair of complete game efforts from its two starting pitchers, Taylor Middaugh and Logan Lange, en route to a 4-1 and 6-3 sweep of Rockford.
Game 1
- Game one was a pitchers' duel between Rockford's Jared Herzog and Marian's Taylor Middaugh, as the two pitchers combined to throw 16.2 of the 17 innings. They each struck out ten batters and allowed a total of just four earned runs.
- Marian was able to strike first and break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning. The Sabres had a walk and two hits in the frame, including an RBI double, to grab an early 1-0 lead.
- The score remained unchanged until Rockford tied the game in the top of the fifth. Bradey Franks got things started with a leadoff single and then advanced to second on a groundout. After a Marian error extended the inning, Neil Freeman hit an RBI single to score Franks and knot the game at 1-1.
- RU starting pitcher Jared Herzog continued to keep the Sabre hitters off balance through the first seven innings, allowing just five hits and the lone run back in the second.
- However, things got a bit dicey in the bottom of the eighth. After a leadoff double and a groundout, Rockford walked the next two batters to load the bases with just one out. Unfortunately, Marian's Josh Gates came up with the biggest hit in the game, when he cleared the bases with a three-run double and put the Sabres in front 4-1.
- Rockford was subsequently unable to mount a serious threat in the ninth and fell by a final score of 4-1.
Game 2
- Game two was also a pitchers' duel for much of the afternoon.
- The game remained scoreless through four and a half innings, until the Sabres took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Marian opened the frame with a double and a triple to grab a 1-0 advantage, and then extended its lead to 2-0 on an RBI groundout.
- Fortunately, Rockford wasted little time taking its first lead of the day, as the Regents responded with a three-run sixth inning. Jake Bilotta and Joseph Stagowski led off with back to back singles, to put runners on first and second with no one out. Two batters later, Neil Freeman belted his fifth home run of the week and put Rockford out in front 3-2.
- However, the Sabres scored three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead. Marian needed just three hits to score its three runs, but also took advantage of a balk and a wild pitch.
- Marian added one more run off two hits in the seventh, to push its lead out to 6-3.
- Unfortunately, Rockford had just one batter reach base over the final three innings and fell by a final score of 6-3.
Game 1
- Jared Herzog went 7.2 strong innings on the mound in the opener. He allowed 4 runs off 7 hits and struck out 10 batters. Herzog's 10 strikeouts on Saturday increases his season total to 41, which currently ranks second in the NACC.
- Neil Freeman finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
- Jake Bilotta was 2-for-5 with a double.
- Bradey Franks went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Game 2
- Neil Freeman drove in all three of the Regents' runs with a three-run home run. Freeman now leads the NACC with 6 home runs this season.
- Jake Bilotta finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- Joseph Stagowski was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
- Christian Dahlstrom threw 2.1 innings in relief. He allowed 1 run off 3 hits and struck out 1.
