BELOIT, Wis. - The Rockford University baseball team swept the Lakeland University Muskies, helping complete back-to-back sweeps over the weekend. The Regents came in after defeating Dominican on Saturday in both games, and carried their momentum through the afternoon's contests, winning the Sunday series as well . Rockford jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in game one, and despite the Muskies best efforts, held on to win 5-3. Lakeland had the lead for a large portion of game two, but an eight-run seventh inning by Rockford gave the Regents a five-run lead that they held the rest of the way, winning the nightcap 10-5.
Rockford 5 Lakeland 3
- The Regents got the offense going in the third inning. Rockford loaded the bases for Alex Perez, who hit a two-run single to open the scoring. Jared Herzog came up right after Perez and sent a three-run homer over the right field fence to extend the lead to 5-0.
- Lakeland quickly fired back with three runs in the top of the fourth, pulling the game to 5-3.
- It was after the top of the fourth that a pitching duel broke out. Tommy Maher faced off against the Lakeland bullpen, as neither side conceded any runs for the rest of the game.
- The Muskies had a few opportunities, including a pair of runners in scoring position in both the seventh and ninth innings, but Rockford pitching prevailed as Tommy Maher picked up the win and Kent Evans Jr. finished off the game in the ninth, earning the save.
Rockford 10 Lakeland 5
- Lakeland scored first in game one, after walking home a run with the bases loaded and following it up with a two-run double to take a 3-0 lead.
- Rockford came up in the third inning and delivered a pair of runs on two sacrifice flies by Alex Perez and Joseph Stagowski to pull the game to 3-2.
- The Muskies extended their lead in the fourth with another bases loaded walk and a sacrifice squeeze bunt to gain a pair of insurance runs at 5-2.
- The Regents didn't respond until the seventh inning. A sacrifice fly brought home Jake Bilotta, who doubled to start the inning making the score 5-3. RU opened the game up from there, rallying to score an additional seven runs in the inning. A pair of singles by Jared Herzog and Jonathan Leon scored two of the runs, tying the game. A fielder's choice scored Jared Herzog in the next at bat, which gave RU the lead 6-5. TJ Cox added an RBI to his stats with a double that scored Jonathan Leon, and BJ Graves scored on a failed pickoff attempt shortly after to extend the lead further to 8-5. Joseph Stagowski delivered the final blow of the inning, a two-run double to left field that put the Regents ahead 10-5 going into the eighth inning.
- Alex Easton was instrumental in securing the Rockford win. He came in and pitched six shutout innings while striking out three batters and only allowing two total hits. Easton took care of the side in order in the eighth and after the Muskies loaded the bases in the ninth, escaped without allowing a run and secured his first win of the season and his career with a final score of 10-5.
Game 1
Game 2
- Alex Easton pitched 6 innings and struck out 3 batters, only allowing 2 hits and 0 runs.
- Jake Bilotta was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.
- BJ Graves hit 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI.
- Joseph Stagowski had a 2-for-4 outing with 3 RBIs, a double, and a run scored.
- Jared Herzog finished 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
