ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team won a pair of conference games 11-3 and 7-6 over the Marian University Sabres on Wednesday afternoon. Rockford got a phenomenal performance from the pitching duo of
Zach Fabis and
Arys Gil in game one, who combined to allow just three runs, racking up seven strikeouts between the two of them over their 9.0 innings of work. The Regents got out to an early 6-1 lead after two innings and never looked back, eventually holding on for the 11-3 win. Game two featured another great starting pitching performance as
Alex Easton delivered a gutsy 6.1 innings of work to keep the Marian bats at bay for most of the game. However, with Rockford eventually holding a 7-3 lead going into the ninth, the Sabres made it interesting, plating three runs in the inning, but the Regents were eventually able to record the final out to secure the 7-6 victory in game two. This sweep of Marian now puts the Regents in 5th place in the NACC standings, with just six conference games remaining.
Game 1
- The Sabres plated a single run in the top of the first on an RBI single to take an early 1-0 lead.
- Rockford responded by scoring eleven runs over the next four innings of play.
- The Regents scored three in the first thanks to RBI doubles from Joseph Stagowski, Zach Fabis and Bryce Stanton to make it an early 3-1 advantage for Rockford.
- Rockford scored three more in the second after back-to-back singles by Enrique Melendez Jr. and Zach Duke to lead off the inning. Jake Bilotta drove in Melendez Jr. with an RBI double and a pair of sacrifice flies by Joseph Stagowski and Kadin Bergstrom plated the final two runs of the inning to make it 6-1.
- The Regents plated five runs over the next two innings, one in the third on an RBI double by Nate Burdin and four more in the fourth.
- Nate Burdin singled home the first run of the inning to make it 8-1, Blaise Mace followed that up with a two-run single to make it 10-1 and Rockford scored its final run of the inning on a Sabres error to take a commanding 11-1 lead.
- After allowing a single run in the first inning, RU starting pitcher Zach Fabis found his groove, working through traffic when he needed to and not allowing another run until the fifth.
- That run for Marian came on a two-out RBI single to make it 11-2.
- The Sabres scored their final run of the game in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly to make it 11-3.
- Arys Gil eventually came into the game for relief of Fabis, continuing to hold the Sabres bats at bay over his 3.0 innings of work. He eventually recorded the final three outs of the game to secure his first career save and the 11-3 win for Rockford.
Game 2
- The Sabres took the early lead again, scoring two runs in the top of the first on a two-run single for an early 2-0 lead.
- Jake Bilotta answered right back for the Regents, barreling a leadoff home run to left center to make it 2-1. Rockford scored twice more in this inning thanks to an RBI single by Zach Fabis and a bases-loaded walk by Zach Duke to give the Regents a 3-1 lead.
- Neither team scored again until the Regents put up a three-run fourth.
- After a one-out single by Jake Bilotta, Joseph Stagowski smashed his 10th home run of the season to make it 5-1 and Zach Fabis drove in the final run of the inning on an RBI double to make it a 6-2 RU lead.
- RU starting pitcher Alex Easton was able to keep the Sabres under control for most of his outing, retiring seven in a row at one point and sacrificing just three runs on the afternoon.
- Marian was able to scratch a single run across in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to make it a 6-3 score.
- The Regents got that run right back in their half of the seventh on a run scored by Ryan Stary on a wild pitch to give Rockford a 7-3 lead.
- The score remained unchanged until the 9th inning. The Sabres were able to cut into the RU lead in a big way with a three-run home run off the bat of James Bornick to make it just 7-6.
- Fortunately, Rockford was eventually able to secure the final three outs of the game to hold on for the 7-6 win and the sweep of Marian.
Game 1
- Zach Fabis tossed 6.0 strong innings, allowing just two runs and racking up 3 strikeouts. At the plate, he finished 3-for-5 with a double, 2 runs scored and an RBI.
- Arys Gil picked up his first career save with another phenomenal 3.0 innings of relief, allowing just a single run and picking up 4 punchouts.
- Nate Burdin finished 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and 2 RBIs.
- Blaise Mace went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and 2 RBIs.
- Enrique Melendez Jr. was 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
Game 2
- Joseph Stagowski finished 2-for-5 with his 10th homer of the season, a double 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs and a stolen base.
- Jake Bilotta was 2-for-5 with his 5th home run of the season, 2 runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
- Zach Fabis went 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBIs.
- Alex Easton fired 6.1 gutsy innings, allowing just 3 runs and picking up 3 strikeouts in his outing.
- Kadin Bergstrom finished 2-for-5 with a double and 2 runs scored.
