Rockford Sun

Baseball Sweeps UW-Parkside

The Rockford University baseball team picked up a pair of huge wins on Monday afternoon over NCAA Division II, UW-Parkside. The Regents won an 11-9 slugfest in the opener, thanks in large part to six runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. The nightcap was an old-fashioned pitchers' duel, with just six combined runs scored between the two teams. Rockford was able to break through with three in the seventh and then added an insurance run in the eighth, to seal a 4-2 win and the sweep. 

Rockford 11 Parkside 9

• Rockford jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Joseph Stagowski doubled to put runners on second and third with no one out. Two batters later, Scott Gowan made it a 1-0 game on an RBI groundout to second. 
• The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fourth, when Parkside hit a 2-run double to take a 2-1 lead. 
• Fortunately, the Regents responded with six runs in the top of the fifth to retake the lead. Jared Herzog had the first big hit of the inning with a two-out, two-run double to give the Regents a 4-2 advantage. Will Hissong and TJ Cox each had two-out RBI singles in the frame as well, putting Rockford out in front 7-2.
• The Rangers trimmed two runs of the Regent lead in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double and RBI single, making it a 7-4 game. 
• Rockford continued its scoring spree with three more runs in the top of the sixth. Jared Herzog crushed his second two-out, two-run double in as many innings, and Malik Abdallah ripped an RBI double of his own, to put Rockford back on top 10-4. 
• However, Parkside plated five runs off four hits, including a pair of two-run home runs, in its half of the inning to make it 10-9 heading into the seventh and final inning. 
• Rockford was able to add an insurance run in the top of seventh thanks to a Joseph Stagowski RBI double.
• Will Hissong then slammed the door shut in the bottom of the seventh. Hissong struck out two, including the final batter of the game, to earn his second save of the season. 

Rockford 4 Parkside 2

• Game two of the afternoon was an outstanding pitchers' duel between the Regents and Rangers.
• RU starting pitcher Aaron Monti tossed perhaps his best game of the season on Monday. Monti went six strong innings and allowed just a solo home run in the fourth. After that run, Monti went on to retire eight of the final nine batters he faced. 
• The RU offense finally gave Monti some support with a trio of runs in the seventh. With one out and the bases loaded, Blaise Mace laced a two-run double into left center field, scoring TJ Cox and BJ Graves, to give the Regents a 2-1 lead. Jonathan Leon then made it a 3-1 game on a sacrifice fly to center field. 
• Rockford was able to add an insurance run in the top of the eighth. The Regents strung together three straight singles, including an RBI single off the bat of BJ Graves, to make it a 4-1 Rockford advantage. 
• A three-run lead was more than enough for RU reliever Kent Evans Jr. Evans allowed just one run over the final three innings and earned his first save of the year. 

Game 1

• Jared Herzog was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles, 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored. 
• Joseph Stagowski went 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored, an RBI and a walk.
• Blaise Mace finished 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored, 2 stolen bases and a walk.
• Tommy Maher earned his first win of the season. He went 5 innings and allowed 4 earned runs. 
• Will Hissong picked up his second save of the year. He threw the final inning and struck out 2 batters.  

Game 2

• Aaron Monti won his first game of the season on Monday. Monti went 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits, while striking out 4 batters. 
• Kent Evans Jr. earned his first save of the season. Evans tossed the final 3 innings, surrendering 1 run off 2 hits and striking out 2 hitters.
• BJ Graves was 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored, an RBI and a walk. 
• Blaise Mace went 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs. 
• Richie Garcia finished 2-for-4.

Original source can be found here