ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team fell in game one 5-3, but won 3-1 in game two over the Aurora University Spartans in a Tuesday afternoon conference showdown. In game one, Rockford held a 3-1 lead through seven innings, backed by an impressive 7.0 innings of work from starting pitcher
Zach Fabis. Unfortunately, the Spartans rallied to score four runs in the eighth to take a 5-3 lead, eventually holding on for the 5-3 win in game one. In the nightcap, pitching again was the story as RU's
Alex Easton and
Brayden Bidwell combined to deliver a phenomenal 9.0 innings of work, keeping the Spartan bats to just a single run for the entire game. Rockford's offense scored one in the first and two more in the seventh and this was all the RU pitching staff needed as they eventually secured the 3-1 victory and the split with Aurora. The win in game two marks the first win over the Spartans since 2017.
Game 1: Aurora 5 Rockford 3
- The Spartans scored the first run of the afternoon in the top of the first. They plated a single run on an RBI single to grab an early 1-0 advantage.
- The Regents responded right back with a two-run second inning. Austin Massat led off the inning with a single and Bryce Stanton and Blaise Mace loaded the bases with one out with back-to-back singles of their own.
- Nate Burdin drove in Rockford's first run of the day with an RBI single and Zach Duke drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to give the Regents a 2-1 lead.
- After Zach Fabis gave up the single run in the first inning, he found his rhythm, settling in to keep the Spartans scoreless until the eighth inning.
- Rockford extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth with a single run scored on two hits. After a one-out single by Bryce Stanton, Blaise Mace moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt and Nate Burdin singled him home to make it a 3-1 game.
- Neither team plated another run until the eighth inning. Unfortunately, it was all Spartans as they scored four runs on five hits to overtake the lead at 5-3.
- The Regents did have a one-out base runner in each of the next two innings, but could not get anything going beyond that, allowing the Spartans to hold on for the 3-1 win in game one.
Game 2: Rockford 3 Aurora 1
- Game two opened as a scoreless battle as both Rockford's Alex Easton and Aurora's Justin Zimmerman did not allow a run over the first 3.5 innings of play. Easton also opened the game retiring the first ten out of the eleven batters he faced.
- Rockford finally broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning thanks to a single run on three hits.
- Kadin Bergstrom doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a wild pitch and came around to score on an RBI single by Nate Burdin to give Rockford the first run of game two.
- Alex Easton continued to keep the Spartan bats at bay, until they were finally able break through with one run in the top of the 7th, tying the game on an RBI single.
- Fortunately, the Regents responded right away with a two-run bottom of the seventh.
- After Brady Norwood and Ryan Stary reached base on back-to-back Spartan errors, Zach Duke delivered the first run of the inning with an RBI double rocketed to the left field wall and Jake Bilotta pushed the final run of the inning across with a sacrifice fly to give the Regents a 3-1 lead.
- After coming in the seventh in relief, Brayden Bidwell was able to continue to keep the Spartans in check, keeping them scoreless over his final two innings of work, eventually slamming the door for Rockford in the 9th, securing the 3-1 win and picking up his first win of the season.
Game 1
- Zach Fabis fired a solid career-high 7.0 innings of work, allowing just 3 earned runs, while racking up a career-high 8 punchouts.
- Blaise Mace went a perfect 3-for-3.
- Nate Burdin was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs
- Bryce Stanton was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored.
- Austin Massat finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- Jake Bilotta was 2-for-5 with a double and stolen base.
Game 2
- Alex Easton delivered a fantastic 6.0 innings on the mound, allowing just a single run and racking up 2 strikeouts.
- Brayden Bidwell provided 3.0 innings of scoreless relief, picking up his first win of the season.
- Kadin Bergstrom went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
- Zach Duke was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
- Brady Norwood was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
