TUCSON, Ariz. - The Rockford University baseball team fell 4-3 and 3-2 in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon against Gustavus Adolphus College. The Gusties entered the day with a 7-0 record, including scoring a combined 21 runs in a doubleheader last Monday against Concordia University Wisconsin. The RU pitching staff fared significantly better, as they allowed just five earned runs in today's twin bill. However, it was a combination of walks and timely hitting by the Gusties that proved to be the difference. Gustavus Adolphus scored two runs in both the third and fifth innings in the opener, including driving in what turned out to be the winning run on a sacrifice fly. In game two, the Gusties scored all three runs over the final two innings, despite recording just three hits in those frames, including a walk-off single by Drake Siens.
Game 1: Gustavus Adolphus 4 Rockford 3
- Pitching dominated the first two innings as the two teams combined for just for just one hit.
- The Gusties then proceed to break the scoreless tie in the third with a pair of runs. Chris Knowles drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single to left, and Gustavus Adolphus tacked on a second run on a 364 double play.
- The score remained unchanged until Rockford plated two runs in the fourth to tie the game. Joseph Stagowski and Kadin Bergstrom began the inning with a walk and a single to put runners on first and second with no one out. Two batters later, Nate Burdin laced a two-run single into center, scoring both runners and tying the game at 2-2.
- Unfortunately, the Gusties got both of those runs back in the top of the fifth. They had just one hit in the inning, but capitalized on a walk, a hit batter and a wild pitch to take a 4-2 advantage.
- Rockford was able to get one of those two runs back in the bottom of the sixth. The Regents loaded the bases with one out following a Kadin Bergstrom single, a hit batter and a Gustavus Adolphus error. Aaron Monti then drove in the lone run of the frame on an RBI groundout to make it a 4-3 game heading into the seventh.
- The Regents were able to get the tying run on base after a one-out walk by Jake Bilotta, but the Gusties retired the next two batters to secure the 4-3 win.
Game 2: Gustavus Adolphus 3 Rockford 2
- This time it was the Regents who struck first with a single run in the top of the second. Bryce Stanton and Cobi Cooper singled and Ethan Pedroza walked to load the bases with just one out. David Wilhite then drove in the first run of the game on an RBI groundout to put Rockford out in front 1-0.
- One run seemed as though it might be enough for Rockford's pitching duo of Logan Koeller and Bartolo Rodriguez. The two combined to allow just three hits over the first five innings as Rockford entered the sixth clinging to a one-run advantage.
- The Regents were able to tack on an additional run in the top of the sixth. Following an error and a Zach Fabis double, the Regents made it a 2-0 game off a Gustavus Adolphus wild pitch.
- However, the Gusties answered right back with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 2-2.
- Rockford had a chance in the top of the seventh to retake the lead. Jake Bilotta led off the inning with a single to left and then advanced to second on a balk with no one out. Unfortunately, the Regents left him stranded at second, as the game entered the bottom of the seventh still tied.
- Dylan Kopesky singled and stole second to put the winning run in scoring position with just one out. Two batters later, Kopesky scored on a walk-off single by Drake Siens to give the Gusties the 3-2 victory.
Game 1
Game 2
