FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University baseball team dropped a tough game 11-1 to the Otterbein University Cardinals in a Thursday afternoon neutral site matchup. The Regents were quickly able to grab a 1-0 lead in the top of 1st inning and unfortunately did not score for the remainder of the game. The Cardinals grabbed the lead in the bottom of the 1st inning and the game was held in check at a 2-1 score for the next three innings thanks to solid pitching by Rockford's
Aaron Monti and Otterbein's Luke Perigo. Unfortunately, Otterbein was able to take control of the game in the 5th inning taking a 7-1 lead and after scoring two in the 6th and 8th innings, went up 11-1 and won the game via the mercy rule.
- The Regents got things started early with a lead-off walk from Blaise Mace, a 1-out single by Joseph Stagowski and after an Alex Perez walk to load the bases, Jake Bilotta put Rockford on the board with an RBI single to grab the lead 1-0.
- The Cardinals promptly responded with their own productive inning with a 2-run second inning after a 2-run home run to put them on top 2-1.
- Both pitchers settled in and traded scoreless innings, with Regent's pitcher Aaron Monti only sacrificing 1 hit over the next 3 innings to keep the game tight.
- Otterbein was able to capitalize on some Regent miscues in the bottom of the 5th inning and were able to plate five total runs on just four hits in an inning that Rockford sacrificed three unearned runs.
- Rockford was held in check in the top of the 6th and the Cardinals added more with a 2-run bottom of the 6th in which Otterbein did not record a hit to go up 9-1 in the game.
- Rockford was able to get a runner in scoring position in each of the next two innings, but failed to cut into the Cardinal lead.
- The Cardinals were able to get another two runs in the bottom of the 8th after an RBI single to right center and an RBI walk to put Otterbein up 11-1 and walk the game off via the mercy rule.
- Joseph Stagowski had a 3-hit day with 3 singles and reached base safely a total of 4 times.
- Jake Bilotta was 1-3 with the sole RBI of the day for RU.
