Rockford Sun

Eight-Run Sixth Costs Regents

The Rockford University baseball team dropped the first in a three-game series, 17-8 at NCAA Division II UW-Parkside. Once again, it was one big inning that ultimately decided the game. With the game tied 5-5 in the sixth, the Rangers exploded for eight runs off five hits and capitalized on a pair of Regent errors, to seize control of the game. Rockford added three in the seventh, but it was not enough, as the Regents dropped their fourth straight. 

• Rockford scored a pair of runs in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. The Regents opened the game with a trio of singles by Jonathan Leon, Joseph Stagowski and Ryan Stejskal to load the bases with no one out. Jared Herzog and Mitch Burchert then each drew a one-out walk to make it a two-run Regent lead. 
• Parkside answered with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning and cut the RU lead in half. 
• The Regents hit right back with a single run off two hits, including an RBI double off the bat of Blaise Mace to put Rockford out in front 3-1. 
• However, Parkside added single runs in the second and third to knot the game at 3-3 heading into the fourth. 
• The Regents and Rangers would each add a run in both the the fourth and fifth innings as the game remained tied at 5-5 entering the sixth. Rockford's runs came off a Jonathan Leon RBI single in the fourth and a Ranger error in the fifth. 
• Unfortunately, things began to go downhill for Rockford in the sixth. Parkside scored eight runs off five hits to blow the game wide open. 
• The Regents nearly cut the deficit in half however, with a trio of runs in the seventh. Ryan Stejskal belted a leadoff home run to make it a 13-6 game. TJ Cox then forced in a run via an RBI walk, and Blaise Mace drove in the final run of the frame on an RBI groundout. 
• However, the Rangers put the game away with four runs in the bottom half of the inning en route to the 17-8 win.

• Ryan Stejskal finished 2-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored. 
• Blaise Mace went 1-for-2 with a double, 2 RBIs and 3 walks. 
• Joseph Stagowski was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored. 
• Jared Herzog threw 4 innings, allowing just 3 earned runs and striking out a season-high 9 batters. 

Original source can be found here