BELOIT, Wis. - The Rockford University baseball team swept a doubleheader 9-8 and 14-3 against the Lakeland University Muskies, these wins bring the Regents to its fourth straight win over the Muskies and the 7th win in the last 8 meetings. In game one, a slated 7-inning game, the Regent offense got off to a hot start, scoring in each of the first 3 innings to take an early 7-0 lead. Lakeland was able to slowly chip away, cutting the Rockford lead to just one on two separate occasions, but Rockford was able to hold off the Muskies and lock it down to take the first game. In game two, the Regents got a gem from starting pitcher
Brayden Bidwell, who tossed 6 solid innings of work, not allowing an earned run and retiring the last 12 batters he faced. Offensively, Rockford was able to ride a 3-run first and a 2-run second to grab an early 5-3 lead. The Regents later tacked on with a 4-run 5th inning to make it a 9-3 game and after rallying for 5 runs with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th the Regents walked it off via the mercy rule with a 2-run blast into the night by
Joseph Stagowski to sweep out the Muskies.
Rockford 9 Lakeland 8
- After a solid top of the 1st by Regent's starting pitcher Adrian Rapier, the Regents were able to strike first in their half after Blaise Mace started the inning with a single, and after finding his way to second, Alex Perez singled into left-center to plate Mace and put the Regents up 1-0.
- Rockford was able to strike again in the bottom of the second, getting things going with a walk to Ethan Pedroza and David Wilhite was able to drive him in with an RBI double, Blaise Mace walked and in a 1st and 3rd situation, Wilhite was able to steal home and tack on another run for the Regents to make it 3-0.
- Jared Herzog was able to keep things going with an RBI single through the right side to make it 4-0 and Joseph Stagowski was able to plate Herzog with an RBI double in the left-center gap to make it 5-0.
- The Regents added on again with a 2-run bottom of the 3rd to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
- Both offenses were held in check until Lakeland was able to string together a 6-run top of the 5th on just 4 hits to make it a 7-6 game.
- Rockford was able to get a run back with a lead-off single from Enrique Melendez Jr. and after reaching third, Ethan Pedroza drove him home with a double hammered to left to extend the RU lead to 8-6.
- The Regents added another run in the 6th with an RBI double from Alex Perez rocketed into right-center to make it a 9-6 game.
- Lakeland battled down to the last out and was able to cut the Regent lead to just 1 after a 2-run single to make it 9-8, but Will Hissong was able to slam the door and get the save, allowing the Regents to take game one 9-8 in a slated 7-inning game.
Rockford 14 Lakeland 3 (7 Innings)
- The Muskies were able to strike first in game two, scoring 2 unearned runs in the top of the 1st to go up 2-0.
- The Regents took that lead right back with a 3-run 1st thanks to an RBI single by Joseph Stagowski and a 2-run nuke by Kadin Bergstrom to make it a 3-2 game.
- The Muskies were able to score another run in the top of the 2nd to tie the game at 3-3.
- Rockford took the lead in its half of the 2nd thanks to an RBI single by Cobi Cooper and a Sac Fly from Jake Bilotta to bring the score to 5-3 Regents.
- Rockford starting pitcher Brayden Bidwell then retired the next 12 Lakeland hitters and the Regents tacked onto their lead with a 4-run 5th inning after an RBI fielder's choice by Kadin Bergstrom, an RBI walk by David Wilhite and a 2-run single by Cobi Cooper to make it a 9-3 game.
- The Regents were able to push across more runs in the bottom of the 7th, all with 2 outs, first with a 2-run double by Jake Bilotta and then an RBI single by Jared Herzog and to cap the night off, Joseph Stagowski blasted a walk-off 2-run blast into left to win the game for Rockford 14-3 in 7 innings via the mercy rule.
Game 1
- Joseph Stagowski provided a 2-4 line with a double and a single, also picking up a run and an RBI.
- Alex Perez had a 2-4 day with a double and a single, also recording 2 RBIs.
- Will Hissong picked up his 4th save of the season.
Game 2
- Brayden Bidwell tossed 6.0 strong innings of work, not allowing an earned run, only allowing 3 hits and racking up 3 strikeouts.
- Joseph Stagowski delivered a 2-3 performance, with a single and a walk-off 2-run homer, also picking up 3 RBIs, 3 runs and a walk.
- Zach Duke picked up a double, a single, 3 runs and a walk.
- Cobi Cooper had a 2-4 game with 2 singles and 3 RBIs.
- Kadin Bergstrom provided a 1-4 game with a 2-run blast, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
- Jake Bilotta had a 1-4 day with a double, 3 RBIs and 2 runs.
