ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team grabbed a pair of wins, 3-2 and 11-8, over the Northland College LumberJacks Saturday afternoon to extend its winning streak to six games. In the opener, Rockford's
Alex Easton and
Aaron Monti were phenomenal on the rubber, combining to allow just two runs off seven hits and struck out 10 over their nine innings of work.
Kadin Bergstrom and
Enrique Melendez Jr. provided the offense for Rockford as Bergstrom belted a two-run shot in the 5th and Melendez Jr. crushed a go-ahead solo swat in the 8th. This ultimately allowed Rockford to take game one by a final score of 3-2. In game two, both teams scored within the first few innings, but after Rockford grabbed the lead in the 3rd, they never trailed again, scoring three in the 5th, four in the 6th and one more in the 7th. Northland did make it interesting, putting the go-ahead run at the plate in the 9th, but the Regents were able to secure the final out and hold on for the 11-8 win in game two.
Game 1: Rockford 3 Northland 2
- Game one was a pitcher's duel with Rockford's Alex Easton and Northland's Ethan Boyce holding both offenses scoreless over the first four and half innings of the game.
- However, Rockford was able to push a runner into scoring position in each of the first two innings, threatening to grab an early lead, but the LumberJacks were able to escape trouble on both occasions.
- Both pitchers continued to control the game until Rockford was finally able to break the scoreless tie in its half of the 5th inning. With two outs in the inning and Joseph Stagowski on third, Kadin Bergstrom blasted a two-run shot over the left field wall to give RU the 2-0 lead.
- Unfortunately, Northland responded right away with a two-run home run of its own to tie the game back up at 2-2.
- Both pitching staffs regained control of the game, and neither team was able to get anything going until the 8th inning. Enrique Melendez Jr. provided the spark for the Regents as he pummeled a solo homer over the left field wall to give Rockford the late 3-2 lead.
- Reliever Aaron Monti did a great job holding down the LumberJacks over the final two innings, not allowing a run and recording the final six outs for the Regents. He also wiggled out of a jam in the 9th inning to secure the game one victory for Rockford 3-2.
Game 2: Rockford 11 Northland 8
- After a clean top of the first inning, Rockford got on the board first with an unearned run scored in the bottom half of the inning by Jake Bilotta to give RU the early 1-0 lead.
- However, the LumberJacks responded with two runs in the second thanks to a two-run home run to give Northland the 2-1 lead.
- The Regents regained the lead in the 3rd inning with two runs off two hits. Zach Duke led off the inning with a single, Jake Bilotta drove him home with an RBI double and Joseph Stagowski brought Bilotta home with a sacrifice fly to give RU a 3-2 lead.
- After giving up the early home run, Rockford's Zach Fabis settled into the game, not allowing a run over his final four innings of work.
- Rockford added to its lead with a trio of runs in the 5th. Joseph Stagowski scored the first run on an RBI double by Kadin Bergstrom. Zach Fabis plated Bergstrom with an RBI single for the second run and Bryce Stanton brought Fabis home with an RBI double to make it a 6-2 Regent lead.
- The Regents were right back at it in the 6th inning, bringing 10 men to the plate and scoring four more runs. Blaise Mace scored on an RBI single by Zach Duke, Joseph Stagowski plated Duke with an RBI double, Stagowski scored on a single by Kadin Bergstrom and Bergstrom scored the final run of the inning on a bases-loaded walk.
- Rockford and Northland each traded a single run in the 7th inning, with Rockford scoring on an RBI single by Erik Carlson to make it 11-3.
- Northland tacked on one run in the 8th inning and made the game interesting in the 9th as they scored four runs and brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs. Fortunately, Rockford closer Will Hissong was able to retire the last batter via the punch out to secure the 11-8 victory and pick up his NACC-leading 5th save in the process.
Game One
- Alex Easton provided a phenomenal 7.0 innings of work, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and a hit by pitch while racking up 6 strikeouts on the afternoon.
- Aaron Monti delivered 2.0 innings in relief, allowing just 2 hits and 1 walk while picking up 4 strikeouts.
- Enrique Melendez Jr. was 1-for-4 with the first home run of his RU career.
- Kadin Bergstrom was 1-for-3 with his second home run of the season and two RBIs.
- Nate Burdin went 2-for-4.
Game Two
- Joseph Stagowski went 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs and 2 runs.
- Kadin Bergstrom was 2-for-4 with a double, 2 RBIs and 2 runs.
- Zach Fabis threw 6.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and 1 HBP, while picking up 5 strikeouts. At the plate he was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Jake Bilotta finished 1-for-4 with a double, 3 runs, an RBI and a walk.
- Zach Duke went 2-for-3 with 2 runs and an RBI.
