WLC Splits NACC Opener At Rockford Behind Game One Outburst

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College scored at least 15 runs for the third time this season in a 15-11 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference-opening win over Rockford on Saturday at RU Baseball Field. The Regents edged the Warriors 5-2 in the nightcap for a conference-opening split.

GAME 1
WLC got on the board first in the top of the first inning with a RBI single from sophomore Ian Rintelman (Muskego, Wis.), which scored freshman Ryan Pierquet (Chilton, Wis.). RU responded with two runs in the second, before a four-run third inning put Wisconsin Lutheran in front 5-2. Rintelman and sophomore Aiden Montgomery (St. Louis, Mo.) scored on a single from freshman Colin Nigl (Neenah, Wis.). A double from junior Lucas Oswald (Muskego, Wis.) scored senior Noah Zaccanti (Geneva, Ill.) and Nigl came around to score on a wild pitch. Rockford tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third. A solo shot from Rintelman in the fourth was answered by a solo shot from the Regents, resulting in a 6-5 Warriors lead. The score remained that way until the seventh when WLC plated seven runs. Zaccanti scored on a single from junior Oliver Lopeztello (Chicago, Ill.). Pierquet drove in Oswald and freshman Jacob Lorbecki (Richfield, Wis.) came around to score on an error. A double from Rintelman plated Lopeztello and Pierquet, which was followed up by a single from Zaccanti, driving in Rintelman and senior Nolan Hodgins (Caledonia, Wis.). Rockford answered back with six runs in the eighth to pull within two. Hodgins scored on an error and Rintelman scored on a sacrifice fly from Oswald in the ninth to seal the 15-11 game one win for WLC.

Rintelman led the way offensively, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored. Pierquet, Zaccanti, Oswald, and Lopeztello all collected a pair of hits. Zaccanti, Oswald, and Nigl each knocked in a pair of runs. Freshman Brett Gatch (Hometown, Ill.) picked up his second win of the year, as he threw 2.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen. 

Zach Duke went 3-for-4 with a RBI and Joseph Stagowski was 2-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored for the Regents. Alex Easton allowed three earned runs and walked four in his start for RU on the mound.

GAME 2
Rockford homered in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Wisconsin Lutheran took the lead back in the top of the third when it scratched across two runs. Pierquet drove in Oswald on a single and Lopeztello came around to score due to an error on the same play. Unfortunately, that was all the offense the Warriors could muster, as the Regents plated a pair of runs in both the fifth and the seventh to pick up the 5-2 victory.

Pierquet went 2-for-4 with a RBI for WLC. 

Jake Bilotta reached base four times with a hit, three walks, and three runs scored for RU (9-4, 1-1 NACC). Adrian Rapier earned the win, throwing 8.0 innings while allowing one earned run and striking out 12. Will Hissong picked up his sixth save of the year. 

Wisconsin Lutheran (4-9, 1-1 NACC) heads to Waukesha tomorrow night for a 7 p.m. non-conference meeting with Carroll (9-7). Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.