Jared Herzog's Gem Leads to Split with Eagles

By Press release submission

Apr 5, 2022

The Rockford University baseball team (6-4, 1-1 NACC) opened NACC play on Sunday by splitting a pair of games at Edgewood College (9-6, 3-1 NACC). The opener was highlighted by the outstanding pitching performance of Jared Herzog. Herzog held an Eagle offense that had been averaging almost ten runs over its last eight games, to just two runs and three hits. He also struck out a season-high eleven hitters, including one in each of the nine innings. Joseph Stagowski led the RU offensive attack going 2-for-3 with two-run home run in the 5-2 victory. In game two, it was Aaron Monti's pinch-hit, three-run home run that was the story. Unfortunately, it was not enough, as Rockford dropped the nightcap by a final score of 10-5.

REGENT RECAP

Game 1

Rockford starting pitcher Jared Herzog was absolutely sensational in the opener. He retired the first eleven batters he faced and held the Eagles scoreless through five innings. After allowing single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, Herzog was once again dominant for the remainder of the game. He did not allow a hit over the final 2.2 innings and the only batter to reach base did so because of a Rockford error. Herzog threw the first nine-inning complete game of his career and finished with a season-high eleven strikeouts, including striking out at least one batter in all nine innings.
The Regents gave Herzog an early 1-0 lead, after scoring a single run in the top of the first. Joseph Stagowski tallied the game's first hit with an infield single, and then moved to second on a wild pitch. One batter later, Jared Herzog drove in Stagowski on an RBI single through the right side of the infield.
Rockford then added two more runs in the third, to grab a 3-0 advantage. Bradey Franks led off the inning with a single, and then Joseph Stagowski crushed a two-run home run over the left field wall.
The score remained 3-0 until Edgewood plated single runs in the sixth and seventh to pull back within one run.
Fortunately, Rockford put up a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth to seal the win. Jake Bilotta and Joseph Stagowski reached via a single and a walk, to put runners on first and second with one out. A couple of batters later, Neil Freeman drove in a run on an RBI single, and then the Regents scored their final run of the game on an Edgewood miscue.

Game 2

The Regents once again scored first and took an early lead over the Eagles.
Rockford needed just one hit to score a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Jonathan Leon and Peyton McCray each draw a walk to put runners on first and second with only one out. Tyler Peake then drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single to center. One batter later, Richie Garcia made it a 2-0 Rockford lead with an RBI groundout.
RU starter Kent Evans Jr. pitched extremely well over the first four innings. Evans allowed just two hits and held the Eagles scoreless, as Rockford took a 2-0 lead into the fifth.
Unfortunately, Edgewood struck for three runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to take a 6-2 advantage. Half of Edgewood's runs came on just two swings. Both of the Eagles' runs in the sixth came courtesy of a two-run home run from Alex Pirdle, and then it the seventh, it was a solo shot off the bat of Joseph Kalafut, which gave Edgewood a four-run lead.
However, the Regents used a three-run top of the eighth to claw their way back to within a single run. Jared Herzog and Jonathan Leon got things started with a pair of singles. Aaron Monti then smashed a pinch-hit, three-run home run over the left field wall to make it a 6-5 ballgame.
Unfortunately, Edgewood answered with four runs off five hits and took advantage of one Rockford error in the bottom of the eighth to secure a 10-5 win.

STAT LEADERS:

Game 1

Jared Herzog threw Rockford's first complete game of the season. Herzog went all 9 innings, allowing just 3 hits and 2 runs, while striking out a season-high 11 and walking just 1 batter. He recorded a strikeout in all 9 innings, including the final batter of the game. Herzog also went 1-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.
Joseph Stagowski was 2-for-3 with a home run, 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs.
Neil Freeman finished 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Jake Bilotta was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Game 2