ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team scored 26 runs off 29 hits in a doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon against the Eureka College Red Devils. Rockford blasted a trifecta of home runs throughout the day, including one by
Jake Bilotta in game one and one each by
Kadin Bergstrom and
Joseph Stagowski in game two. The Regents and Red Devils battled in the early stages of game one, but Rockford took control with two 3-run innings in the 4th and 8th innings, eventually taking the opener 9-5. In game two, Rockford put together 16 hits and only needed eight innings to take care of the Red Devils, capped off by 5 runs with 2 outs in the bottom of the eighth to walk-off the game for the Regents via mercy rule 17-7. Rockford has now won five straight over Eureka and 17 of the last 18 meetings between the two schools, dating back to 2003.
Game 1
- After the Red Devils grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an unearned run, the Regents quickly responded to tie the game thanks to a lead-off double by Jake Bilotta, who later scored on an RBI double from Zach Fabis.
- Eureka scored again in the top of the 2nd to take a 2-1 lead.
- Rockford battled back with an RBI single from Ryan Stary after Nate Burdin singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a balk. Stary later came around to score on a double by Jake Bilotta to give RU a 3-2 lead.
- Neither team struck in the third inning, but the Red Devils tied the game at 3-3 with a single run in the top of the 4th.
- Rockford regained the lead with a 3-run bottom of the 4th. Blaise Mace doubled to lead off the inning, followed by back-to-back sacrifice flies from Ryan Stary and Zach Duke. Jake Bilotta was then hit by a pitch, and Joseph Stagowski and Kadin Bergstrom hit back-to-back doubles to give RU a 6-3 lead.
- Rockford maintained its 3-run lead until Eureka was able to chip into the lead with a 3-hit, 2-run top of the 7th that made it a slight 6-5 RU lead.
- The score remained a 1-run game until the Regents were able to add some insurance in their half of the 8th inning.
- Rockford put together a 3-run bottom of the eighth after Ryan Stary reached via error and Zach Duke singled to begin the inning and Jake Bilotta drove everyone home with a 3-run moonshot over the left field wall to give RU a 9-5 lead.
- Rockford's Will Hissong was able to slam the door for Rockford, securing the final five outs and the 9-5 win for the Regents in game one.
Game 2
- Game two started similar to game one, as both teams traded runs to begin the contest.
- After Eureka scored a single run in the top of the 1st, Rockford scored two in their half of the 1st thanks to an RBI fielder's choice by Austin Massat and a throwing error by the Red Devils to put RU ahead 2-1.
- The Red Devils responded with a 3-run 2nd inning on 3 hits to take a 4-2 lead.
- Rockford got one of those runs back with a run scored by Zack Duke in its half of the 2nd inning to make it 4-3.
- Both pitching staffs held each other's offenses in check over the next 2.5 innings, combining for only two hits allowed between the two staffs.
- The Regents put an end to that, taking the lead with a 2-run bottom of the 5th inning. After Jake Bilotta led off the inning with a walk, Joseph Stagowski doubled and Kadin Bergstrom drove in the pair with a single through the middle to give Rockford a 5-4 lead.
- Rockford added to that with a single run in the bottom of the 6th on an RBI from Cobi Cooper to make it a 6-4 game.
- Unfortunately, the Red Devils responded with a 3-run top of the 7th to recapture the lead at 7-6.
- However, Rockford retook the lead with a 5-run 7th inning thanks to a lead-off solo swat from Joseph Stagowski, an RBI triple from Jeremiah Olson, a 2-run single by Cobi Cooper and a run scored via an error by Nate Burdin to give RU an 11-7 lead.
- Rockford poured it on with a big 6-run 8th inning, with five of the runs coming with 2 outs. Kadin Bergstrom led the inning off with a solo jack into left, Enrique Melendez Jr. walked and later scored on a steal of home, Blaise Mace delivered an RBI single and Rockford was eventually able to secure the victory in this inning with a walk-off walk from Ryan Stary to win the second game via the mercy rule 17-7.
Game 1
- Jake Bilotta provided a 3-3 line with 2 doubles, a home run, 4 RBIs, 3 runs scored and 1 walk.
- Alex Easton delivered a strong performance with 4.0 innings of work and the win, sacrificing 4 hits, 1 earned run and 3 walks but racking up 5 strikeouts on the day.
- Zach Fabis was 2-3 with a double, a single, a walk and an RBI.
- Blaise Mace went 2-4 with 2 doubles and a run scored.
- Will Hissong provided 1.2 innings of relief, only facing one above the minimum and picking up his first save of the season.
Game 2
- Kadin Bergstrom went 2-4 with a home run, a single, 4 RBIs and a run scored.
- Joseph Stagowski was 2-4 with a home run, a double, 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 1 walk.
- Cobi Cooper provided a 3-4 performance with 3 singles and 3 RBIs.
- Enrique Melendez Jr. was 2-4 with 2 singles, 2 runs scored, a walk and a stolen base.
