ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University baseball team dropped a heartbreaker 9-8 to Edgewood College in 12 innings during the first round of the NACC Tournament. The Regents led by as many as five in the game, but Edgewood scored the final six runs for the comeback win. Offensively, the Regents were led by
Jake Bilotta who finished just a triple away from the cycle. He had four hits, drove in three and scored two more runs. Rockford finishes its season with a 24-17 overall record, which is the most wins in a season since 2010.
- The Regents plated a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead. Jake Bilotta led of the game with an infield single, and then Joseph Stagowski blasted his NACC-leading 14th home run over the left field wall to give the Regents a two-run advantage.
- The Eagles were however able to score an unearned run in the bottom of the second to chop Rockford's lead in half. Edgewood had just one hit in the inning but capitalized on a passed ball to plate a run and make it a 2-1 game.
- The score remained unchanged until the Rockford posted its second two-run inning of the game in the top of the fourth. Following a single and two quick outs, Zach Duke laced a clutch RBI double down the left field line to extend Rockford's lead to 3-1. One batter later, Jake Bilotta made it a 4-1 game with his second hit of the day, this one an RBI single back up the middle.
- However, the Eagles were able to score an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth and another in the bottom of the fifth to pull back to within a single run at 4-3. Edgewood had a pair of hits in the fourth and one in the fifth, but took advantage of a Regent error in each inning to score its runs.
- Fortunately, Rockford was able to turn the tables on Edgewood with a trio of unearned runs in the top of the sixth. The Regents' first run of the inning came on a miscue by the Eagles to make it 5-3. Jake Bilotta then recorded Rockford's only hit of the inning, a two-run home run over the left field wall, to give the Regents their largest lead of the game thus far at 7-3.
- Rockford continued to add onto its lead with another run off two hits in the seventh. Blaise Mace got things started with a one-out double down the right field line. One batter later, Austin Massat ripped an RBI single into left, scoring Mace and making it an 8-3 RU lead.
- The pesky Eagles continued to fight with a four-run seventh inning Edgewood plated a pair of runs on a two-run Jacob Carney single to cut Rockford's lead down to 8-5. A couple of batters later, Brevin Brisack doubled in two more runs to make it only a one-run game.
- Edgewood then tied the game with another unearned run in the bottom of the eighth. The Eagles had two hits in the inning, including an RBI single, but took advantage of a passed ball to make it an 8-8 game heading into the ninth.
- Rockford had a runner in scoring position in the top of the ninth following a two-out double by Nate Burdin. Unfortunately, Burdin was left stranded at second and the game entered the bottom of the ninth still tied.
- The Eagles were also able to get a runner on base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Zach Fabis struck out the next batter to send the game into extras.
- The Regents had another chance to score in the top of the tenth as Zach Duke led off the inning with a double. Unfortunately, the Eagles were able to wiggle out of the jam without allowing a run.
- Rockford's next best chance to score came in the top of the twelfth inning. Jake Bilotta doubled and then Joseph Stagowski walked to put runners on first and second with just one out. However, the Regents hit into a double play to end the inning and the scoring threat.
- Edgewood then proceeded to load the bases with only one out in the bottom half of the inning. Ryan Ambrosy then ended the game with a walk-off RBI single to left field.
- Jake Bilotta finished 4-for-7 with a double, a home run, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
- Joseph Stagowski was 1-for-3 with a home run, 2 RBIs, a run scored and 4 walks.
- Zach Fabis went 2-for-5.
- Zach Duke finished 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Nate Burdin was 3-for-6 with a double and a run scored.
- Brayden Bidwell went 6.2 innings, allowing 3 earned runs and striking out 4 batters.
- Zach Fabis pitched the final 4.1 innings for the Regents. He allowed just 1 earned run and also struck out 4 batters.
