ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team split a conference doubleheader with the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons, losing the first game 8-4, but winning the second 5-2. In the opener, the Falcons grabbed an early 3-0 lead, but Rockford did battle to as close as one at 5-4. Unfortunately, a pair of home runs in the eighth inning pushed the Falcons to an 8-4 lead, one they would not relinquish, eventually hanging on for the 8-4 win in game one. Game two was more of a pitcher's duel with RU's pitching duo of
Brayden Bidwell and
Alex Easton combining for a fantastic 9.0 innings, sacrificing just two earned runs and striking out seven batters between the two of them.
Zach Fabis also provided the spark for Rockford, giving his team the lead in the seventh with a clutch go-ahead three-run double to give the Regents a late 5-2 lead. Rockford eventually recorded the final three outs of the game, securing the 5-2 win and ultimately forcing the split with CUW.
Game 1: CUW 8 Rockford 4
- The Falcons struck early with three runs in the top of the first inning. CUW scattered four hits in the inning and took advantage of an RU error to take an early 3-0 advantage.
- Rockford put the leadoff batter in scoring position in each of the second and third innings, but CUW pitcher Zach Slome was able to wiggle out of both of those jams, keeping the Regents scoreless.
- After a tough first inning, RU starting pitcher Adrian Rapier retired the next nine batters he faced, picking up three strikeouts as well over that stretch.
- The Regents also plated their first run of the game with a single run scored in the bottom of the fourth. After a two-out walk by Blaise Mace, followed by a single from Nate Burdin, with runners on first and second, Zach Duke drove home Mace with an RBI single to make it a 3-1 game.
- Unfortunately, the Falcons erased that in the bottom fifth with a two-run home run to give themselves a 5-1 lead.
- Rockford did cut into the lead with a single run in the 5th thanks to a leadoff triple by Joseph Stagowski, followed by an RBI groundout by Kadin Bergstrom, cutting the CUW lead to 5-2.
- The Regents continued to fight, mowing the Falcon lead to just one in the bottom of the seventh. Jake Bilotta led off the inning with a single and with one out, Kadin Bergstrom blasted his 7th homer of the season to make it a 5-4 game.
- Unfortunately, the Falcons responded with a three-run top of the 8th. CUW belted back-to-back home runs in the inning, one a two-run homer by Tyler Brandenburg and the other a solo shot by Matt Miller to give the Falcons an 8-4 lead.
- The Regents did have a base runner in each of the next two innings, but could not get anything going past that as the Falcons eventually held on for the 8-4 win in game one.
Game 2: Rockford 5 CUW 2
- This time it was Rockford who struck first, plating a single run in the bottom of the first. After a double by Joseph Stagowski, Zach Fabis drove him in with a two-out RBI single up the middle to give the Regents an early 1-0 lead.
- CUW instantly responded in the top of the second with a solo home run by Tyler Brandenburg to tie the game up at 1-1.
- Both teams were held scoreless over the next 3.5 innings by some great pitching by both Rockford's Brayden Bidwell and CUW's Alex Kuntz.
- Unfortunately, the Falcons eventually broke this streak with a solo home run in the top of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead.
- The Regents instantly looked to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third with just one out, but unfortunately the next two batters were retired in order, preserving the 2-1 Falcon lead.
- Rockford finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh with a massive four-run inning, all with two outs.
- Zach Duke and Jake Bilotta delivered back-to-back singles and Joseph Stagowski tied the game with an RBI double down the line. After Kadin Bergstrom was intentionally walked to load the bases, Zach Fabis cleared them with a three-run double roped to left-center to push the Regents in front at 5-2.
- After coming into the game in the seventh for relief, RU pitcher Alex Easton, held the Falcons in check the rest of the way through, eventually recording the final three outs, securing the 5-2 win and the split with the Falcons.
Game 1
Game 2
- Brayden Bidwell fired a strong 6.2 innings of work, sacrificing two earned runs and 6 hits, while picking up 4 punchouts.
- Alex Easton pitched a brilliant 2.1 innings in relief, picking up his second win of the season, allowing just 1 hit and racking up 3 strikeouts.
- Zach Fabis provided a huge 2-for-3 day, with a double and accounting for four out of the five of Rockford's runs with 4 RBIs and a stolen base.
- Joseph Stagowski finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, an RBI and a walk.
