FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University baseball team split a pair of games with Bluffton University, including their first win of the season. Rockford started the morning with a six-run comeback win 7-6 but fell in the second game 4-12. The Regents took an early lead in the second inning of game one, but the Beavers struck back with 6 unanswered runs. The Regents pulled all the way back and took the lead in the seventh inning, in part due to
Alex Perez hitting a 3-run double to take the lead. Rockford closed out the last half-inning and won game one 7-6. Bluffton was firmly in control of game two, scoring eight unanswered runs before the Regents got on the scoreboard. The Beavers added four more runs before the end of the contest, taking game two after a final score of 12-4.
Game One: Rockford 7, Bluffton 6
- Rockford opened the scoring to start the game. Jonathan Leon grounded out to second, but Jared Herzog was able to come home and score to make it 1-0.
- Tommy Maher held the Beavers through the first four innings, recording six strikeouts and only allowing one hit.
- Bluffton was able to finally respond in the fifth inning with a double that brought in two runs to take the lead. Bluffton was in front 2-1.
- The Beavers continued to score in the fifth. A bases-loaded single drove in two runs and a sacrifice fly brought in one more on way to a 5-1 Bluffton lead to end the fifth inning.
- The Beavers added a sixth unanswered run in the sixth inning after an error and a single brought the run in to make it 6-1.
- With their backs against the wall, the Regents mounted a six-run comeback in the seventh inning to take the lead.
- Loading the bases, Rockford earned two walks and a single to score three runs and pull the score to 6-4.
- Alex Perez stepped up with the bases loaded and delivered the hit of the game. He smacked a double and recorded 3 RBIs to give Rockford the lead back, 7-6.
- Will Hissong stepped onto the mound for the bottom of the inning, recording the final three outs and securing the win for the Regents 7-6.
Game Two: Rockford 3, Bluffton 12
- Bluffton got off to a quick start in game two, racking up six unanswered runs before the sixth inning.
- The Beavers added two more unanswered runs before the Regents got on the board with an error that allowed Joseph Stagowski to come around and score, narrowing the score to 8-1.
- Bluffton continued to pour on runs, scoring three more runs over the next two innings to build a 12-1 lead.
- Rockford had a large deficit to overcome, and only scored two more runs in the eighth and ninth innings before the final out. A single by BJ Graves scored Joseph Stagowski and another error in the ninth inning scored Blaise Mace to make it 12-3. A wild pitch after Mace scored brought in Joseph Stagowski for the Regents final run, making it 12-4 when the last out was recorded.
Game One
- Alex Perez hit 3-for-4 with a double that scored 3 RBIs, including the go-ahead run.
- Jonathan Leon went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
- Ryan Stejskal finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI as well.
Game Two
