LISLE, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team dropped a pair of high-scoring games 11-7 and 15-10 on the road Friday afternoon at Benedictine University. Rockford actually led in both games, including heading into the bottom of the eighth in the opener. However, it was the Eagle offense that exploded for a trio of big innings during the doubleheader that ultimately led them to victory. Benedictine combined to score 16 of its 26 runs in just three innings. Offensively for Rockford it was
Joseph Stagowski who blasted two more home runs, which ties him for the team lead and is just one behind the NACC leader. The loses drop the Regents to the seventh seed in the NACC Tournament, and Rockford will now play in an elimination game on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 PM against Edgewood College at MSOE. The winner of the game will advance to the double-elimination portion of the tournament beginning on Thursday, May 8 which is also at MSOE.
Game 1
- The opener began as a pitchers' duel for the first six innings of the game.
- Rockford University starting pitcher Brayden Bidwell surrendered just two runs over his six innings of work. After allowing a run in the third, Bidwell retired nine straight batters, before the Eagles scored their other run off him in the bottom of the sixth.
- The RU offense gave Bidwell three runs of support during his time on the mound.
- The Regents got the scoring starting with a single run in the top of the first. Jake Bilotta led off the game with a double, moved to third on a flyout and then scored on a wild pitch.
- Following the Eagles' run in the third, Rockford retook the lead in the fifth. Senior Jake Bilotta crushed his seventh home run of the season to put his team back in front by a score of 2-1.
- Rockford then added another single run in the sixth to make it a 3-1 game. After a pair of walks put runners on first and second with one out, Blaise Mace laced an RBI double down the left field line to give the Regents a two-run cushion.
- However, Benedictine scored a run in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the seventh to take its first lead of the game at 4-3. The Eagles had no hits in the sixth but capitalized on a pair of walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches to plate their run. Benedictine then scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh off three hits, including a two-out RBI single to take a 4-3 advantage.
- Rockford then responded with a three-run eighth to springboard itself back in front by a score of 6-4. The Regents drew two walks and then got a clutch two-out, three-run home run off the bat of Joesph Stagowski to give Rockford a 6-4 lead.
- Unfortunately, Benedictine responded with seven runs, five of which were unearned, in the bottom half of the inning. The big hit in the inning was a three-run home run off the bat of Mike Budorick to catapult the Eagles to an 11-6 advantage.
- The Regents were able to score a run in the top of the ninth off a Ryan Stary RBI fielder's choice, but it was not enough, as the Eagles took the opener by a final score of 11-7.
Game 2
- The nightcap was scoreless through two, but then the Regents and Eagles combined to score 25 runs over the final seven innings.
- Joseph Stagowski and Bryce Stanton got things started with a pair of solo home runs in the top of the third to give Rockford a quick 2-0 lead.
- Unfortunately, Benedictine responded with four runs off four hits in the bottom of the third and five runs off three hits in the fourth to take a commanding 9-2 lead.
- Rockford was able to cut into the deficit with two runs in the top of the fifth. Zach Duke and Jake Bilotta strung together back-to-back doubles, with Bilotta driving in Duke. Zach Fabis drove in the other run on a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 9-4 game.
- However, the Eagles answered right back with a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and one more in the seventh to push their lead all the way up to 13-4.
- The Regents still had a lot of fight left in them as Rockford exploded for a five-run eighth. Rockford quickly loaded the bases on a Blaise Mace single and a pair of one-out walks. Zach Duke then drove in a run with an RBI single, and Jake Bilotta followed with a two-run double to left center. Two batters later, Zach Fabis drove in the final two runs on a two-out, two-run single through the right side of the infield to make it just a 13-9 game.
- Benedictine was able to get two of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning to take a 15-9 lead into the ninth.
- Rockford again quickly loaded the bases, this time with no one out, following a pair of walks and a David Wilhite single. Cobi Cooper followed with an RBI groundout to make it a 15-10 game. Unfortunately, the Eagles struck out the next two batters to secure the 15-10 victory.
Game 1
- Joseph Stagowski finished 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, 3 RBIs and a run scored. Stagowski's 13 home runs is tied for the team lead and is one off the NACC leader.
- Jake Bilotta was also 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, 3 runs scored and an RBI.
- Zach Fabis went 1-for-2 with a triple and 2 runs scored.
- Blaise Mace finished 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
- Brayden Bidwell got the start and went six strong innings for the Regents. Bidwell allowed just 4 hits and 2 runs while striking out a pair of Eagle batters.
Game 2
- Jake Bilotta finished 3-for-6 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
- Zach Fabis went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.
- Joseph Stagowski was 2-for-4 with a home run, a run scored and an RBI.
- Blaise Mace finished 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored.
- Bryce Stanton was 2-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored.
- Zach Duke went 2-for-5 with a double, 2 runs scored and an RBI.
