ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team split a pair of games against the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors, falling in game one 15-11 and winning game two 5-2. The Regents and Warriors battled to begin game one to a 6-5 WLC lead over the first four innings. However, the game became a slug fest as WLC scored seven in the 7th and Rockford scored six in the 8th to a 13-11 score. Unfortunately, despite the battle, the Regents were unable to get any closer as WLC held on for the win in game one. Rockford's
Joseph Stagowski also blasted two home runs in the losing effort. Game two was a completely different story as both starting pitchers held both offenses in check for the most part. However, senior
Jake Bilotta jolted the Regents with a lead off homer to start the game. Starting pitcher
Adrian Rapier also delivered a fantastic performance, tossing a brilliant 8 innings en route to the game two win.
Game 1: WLC 15 Rockford 11
- WLC grabbed an early lead to begin game one as they scratched a single run across in the top of the 1st on an RBI single.
- The Regents eventually tied the game in their half of the 2nd with a solo blast by Kadin Bergstrom. Rockford later took the lead in this inning with an RBI single from Ryan Stary to make it a 2-1 RU lead.
- The Warriors retook the lead with a 4-run 3rd inning on just two hits.
- However, The Regents responded with 2 runs in its half of the 3rd thanks to an RBI single from Zach Fabis and a bases-loaded walk by Ryan Stary to make it a 5-4 game.
- WLC and Rockford traded solo home runs in the 4th inning with Ian Rintelman going deep for the Warriors and Joseph Stagowski going yard for the Regents.
- Neither team scored again until the 7th inning when the Warriors blew the game wide open with 7 runs on just 5 hits, but capitalized on some walked batters and an RU error to take a 13-5 lead.
- Fortunately, the Regents made a big dent in the WLC lead with six runs in the 8th inning. Joseph Stagowski got things started with a two-run laser, Enrique Melendez Jr. drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Blaise Mace, Ryan Stary and Zach Duke all laced RBI singles to cut the lead to 13-11 by the end of the inning.
- The Warriors were able to erase two of those runs with two runs scored on a Regent error in the top of the 9th that gave WLC a 15-11 lead.
- Unfortunately, Rockford was unable to get anything going in the 9th and the Warriors were able to hold on for a final score of 15-11.
Game 2: Rockford 5 WLC 2
- After a perfect top of the 1st by Rockford's starting pitcher Adrian Rapier, Jake Bilotta got RU on the board early with a lead off swat off of the foul pole to give the Regents a 1-0 lead.
- Unfortunately, WLC took the lead in the 3rd inning, taking advantage of a walk and an RU error to plate two runs and take a 2-1 lead.
- However, from this point forward, RU starting pitcher Adrian Rapier took control of the game, not allowing a hit again until the 6th inning and retiring the next 10 out of 11 batters after giving up those two runs.
- Rockford eventually regained the lead in the 5th inning. Jake Bilotta walked and came all the way around to score on a wild pitch and Kadin Bergstrom drove in the final run of the inning on an RBI single to left center to make it 3-2.
- The Regents added to their lead with two more runs in the 7th inning. Kadin Bergstrom drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly and Enrique Melendez Jr. drove in the second with a bases-loaded hit by pitch to make it a 5-2 RU lead.
- Rockford's Will Hissong came into the game in the 9th and slammed the door for the Regents, securing the 5-2 win and picking up his 6th save of the season.
Game 1
- Joseph Stagowski went 2-for-5 with two home runs for his 4th and 5th of the season. He also drove in 3 runs, scored 3 runs and walked once.
- Zach Fabis was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored and 2 walks.
- Zach Duke finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.
- Ryan Stary went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a walk.
- Kadin Bergstrom was 1-for-2 with a solo home run, his 3rd of the season, 1 RBI, 2 runs, a stolen base and 2 walks.
Game 2
- Adrian Rapier was fantastic in his career-high 8.0 innings of work, only allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run and 3 walks, while racking up a season-high 12 punchouts.
- Jake Bilotta went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, his 3rd of the season, 3 runs, 3 stolen bases, an RBI and 3 walks.
- Kadin Bergstrom was 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a stolen base.
- Will Hissong pitched a scoreless inning of relief, picking up a strikeout and his NACC-leading 6th save of the season.
