ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team had a trio of players recognized by the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference when it released its 2023 postseason awards on Monday morning. Junior pitcher Jared Herzog was named Second Team All-NACC, while outfielder Joseph Stagowski and pitcher Kent Evans Jr. were selected NACC Honorable Mention. Rockford has now had multiple players receive a postseason award from the NACC each year since the conference was formed for the 2007 season.  

Junior starting pitcher Jared Herzog was voted Second Team All-NACC for the second consecutive season. Herzog was the ace of the Regents' pitching staff and finished in the top 15 in the conference in sixth pitching categories. At the conclusion of the regular season, he was third in the NACC in saves (1), sixth in strikeouts (70), ninth in starts (9), tenth in innings pitched (55.0), eleventh in wins (4) and fifteenth in earned run average (4.58). In addition to his pitching duties, Herzog also hit in the middle of the Regent lineup all season long. He finished the year with a .303 batting average, 9 doubles, 3 home runs, 27 runs batted in and 17 runs scored. 

Sophomore outfielder Joseph Stagowski was named NACC Honorable Mention for the first time in his career. Stagowski led the Regents in numerous offensive statistics and ranked in the top 14 in the NACC in six categories despite missing eight straight games due to an injury. He finished the regular season ranked third in the NACC in batting average (.421), fourth in OPS (1.160), seventh in slugging percentage (.675), ninth in on-base percentage (.485) and fourteenth in both doubles (13) and triples (2). 

Senior pitcher Kent Evans Jr. was also named NACC Honorable Mention for the first time in his career. After being primarily used as a starting pitcher in each of the last two seasons, Evans moved to the bullpen this year and served as the team's closer. He finished the year with 6 saves, which not only led the NACC, but also ranked 23rd amongst all NCAA Division III pitchers at the end of the regular season. Evans finished the year with a 4.38 ERA (13th in the NACC), a .237 batting average against (9th in the NACC) and 38 strikeouts over his 39 innings pitched.