BELOIT, Wis. - The Rockford University baseball team earned an exciting 7-6 walk-off win in 10 innings vs. #18 Benedictine University on Friday afternoon. It was the Regents' first win over Benedictine since 2018. In the opener, Rockford fell behind three times, but battled back to tie it on each occasion including scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to send it to the tenth. Rockford put a pair of runners on with two outs, and then
Jake Bilotta roped the game-winning RBI single off the left field wall for the Regents' fifth walk-off win of the season. Unfortunately, the momentum from game one did not carry over to game two, as Rockford dropped the nightcap 21-5. The win propelled the Regents into the 8th seed of the NACC Tournament. Rockford will play Marian University in an elimination game on Wednesday, May 8 at 2:00 PM at Benedictine University.
Game 1
- Both Rockford's Paul Turelli and Benedictine's Andrew Kurcz was dominant early on in game one. Neither pitcher allowed a hit until the top of the fourth inning when the Eagles were able to get a leadoff single and eventually scored on a wild pitch to grab a 1-0 lead.
- The Regent offense bounced right back in the bottom half of the inning with a run of its own. Jared Herzog got things started with a leadoff triple and then scored on a Kadin Bergstrom RBI single to left center to knot the game up at 1-1.
- However, the Eagles were able to retake the lead with a three-run top of the fifth. Benedictine had no hits in the inning but capitalized off off four walks and an error to grab a 4-1 advantage.
- The Regents battled right back and put runners on second and third with one out thanks to a Jake Bilotta single and an Eagle error. Rockford then got its first run of the inning on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Alex Perez made it a 4-3 game on a sacrifice fly to left.
- Following a scoreless sixth, the Regents were able to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. After back-to-back one-out single by Jake Bilotta and Jared Herzog put runners on the corners, Joseph Stagowski tied the game and sent it into extras on a sacrifice fly to center.
- The score remained unchanged until Benedictine plated a pair of runs in the top of the ninth, only one of which was earned.
- Fortunately, Rockford responded right back with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning. After a walk and a wild pitch put a runner in scoring position with one out, Jake Bilotta cut the Eagle lead in half on an RBI single through the right side of the infield. One batter later, Jared Herzog tied the game on an RBI double to deep left center.
- Reliever Will Hissong was instrumental in keeping the game close over the final five innings. Hissong held the Eagles scoreless over his first three innings and then put the Regents in position to win the game in the tenth.
- After holding the Eagles scoreless in the top of the tenth, Rockford was able to get a runner one second with just one out. Three batters later, Jake Bilotta won the game with an RBI single down the left field line to knock off the Eagles in 10 innings.
Game 2
- The Eagles strung together a pair of singles to plate a run in the top of the first and take a 1-0 lead.
- Fortunately, Rockford tied the game with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning. The Regents loaded the bases on a Jake Bilotta single and a pair of walks. One batter later, Kadin Bergstrom tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left.
- Benedictine added multiple runs in each of the next three innings. The Eagles picked up four runs in the third and two more in the fourth and fifth to take a 9-3 lead.
- Rockford was however able to push a single runs across in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. After singles by Zach Duke and David Wilhite put runners on the corners with one out, Ryan Stary drove in a run on an RBI fielder's choice to make it 7-2. Rockford's run in the fifth came after a leadoff double by Jake Bilotta, who later scored on an RBI single by Kadin Bergstrom to make it 9-3.
- The Benedictine offense then exploded for 12-runs in the top of the seventh to take a commanding 21-3 lead.
- The Regents were able to push across two runs in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Erik Carlson and an RBI double by Nate Burdin. Unfortunately, it was not enough as the Eagles took game two.
Game 1
- Jake Bilotta picked up a 4-hit game. He also scored 3 runs, walked, had 2 RBIs and drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the tenth.
- Paul Turelli was solid on the mound for the Regents. He allowed only 1 hit in 5 innings of work, 3 earned runs and racking up 4 strikeouts.
- Will Hissong was able to deliver 5 clutch innings in relief and pick up his fifth win of the season. He allowed just 1 earned run off 5 hits and tallied 2 punch outs.
- Jared Herzog had a 3-5 day and was just a home run away from the cylcle. He finished with a double, a triple, 2 runs and an RBI.
- Zach Fabis went 2-4 with a walk.
Game 2
