ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team won 20-16 in an absolute slugfest against the Beloit College Buccaneers. Tuesday's game featured a total of 36 runs and 40 hits from both sides. There was at least one run scored in each inning and both teams scored at least one run in seven of the nine innings. Rockford's
Kadin Bergstrom and
Joseph Stagowski also provided a huge spark for the Regent offense, combining for 5 home runs, with Bergstrom blasting three and Stagowski belting two,12 RBIs and 7 runs scored in what was a monster day for the pair. Despite the offensive onslaught, the Buccaneers stayed right there with the Regents throughout the game, but Rockford never relinquished the lead. However, the Bucs did make it interesting, bringing the tying run to the plate in the 9th, but RU closer
Will Hissong came in to record the final out and pick up his NCAA DIII-leading 7th save in the process.
- Beloit scored an unearned run off of an RBI single in the top of the 1st to grab an early 1-0 lead.
- Rockford quickly took the lead in its half of the 1st after Jake Bilotta led off the inning with a double and Joseph Stagowski blasted a two-run home run into left to make it 2-1. Kadin Bergstrom then delivered the second two-run home run of the inning to make it 4-1 and Rockford scored its final run of the inning on an RBI from Ryan Stary to make it 5-1.
- The Regents added three more runs on Kadin Bergstrom's second home run in as many innings as he cranked a three-run blast to give RU an 8-1 lead.
- The Bucs cut the Rockford lead in half with two runs in the third to make it 8-4, but the Regents got one of those back on an RBI single by Zach Fabis in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-4.
- The offensive onslaught continued in the top of the 4th as Beloit scratched three runs across in the inning to make it just a 9-7 Rockford lead.
- Fortunately, the Regents took control of the game in the bottom of the 4th, plating seven runs and bringing 11 men to the plate. Austin Massat and Jake Bilotta both provided RBI singles, Joseph Stagowski launched a three-run homer for his second of the game and to cap the inning off Kadin Bergstrom swatted his third home run of the game to give RU a commanding 16-7 lead.
- Beloit clawed its way back with six runs combined over the 5th and 6th innings to trim the Rockford lead all the way down to three at 16-13.
- The Regents got some of those runs back, with four runs scored between the 6th and 7th innings. Ryan Stary laced a two-run single and Zach Duke drove in the final run of the 6th with an RBI single. Rockford's lone run in the 7th came on a sacrifice fly from Erik Carlson to make it 20-13 lead for RU.
- Beloit responded again with two runs in the 8th to cut the RU lead to five at 20-15.
- For the 9th straight inning, at least one run was scored, as the Buccaneers added another run in the top of the 9th to make it 20-16 and continued to rally as they eventually brought the tying run to the plate. Fortunately, Rockford's Will Hissong slammed the door, picking up his 7th save and securing the 20-16 victory.
- Kadin Bergstrom had an impressive 3-for-5 performance at the plate, blasting a career-high and tying the program record with three home runs, picking up a career-high 7 RBIs, scoring 3 runs and drawing a walk.
- Joseph Stagowski also had a day to remember as he was 2-for-5 with 2 home runs, a career-high 5 RBIs, 4 runs scored, a stolen base and a walk.
- Zach Fabis had a 4-hit game as he was 4-for-6 with a double, 4 runs scored, a stolen base and an RBI.
- Jake Bilotta went 3-for-7 with a double, 3 runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
- Ryan Stary was 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs, 2 walks and a stolen base.
- Blaise Mace went 2-for-4 with a double, 2 runs scored, and a walk.
