FRANKLIN, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College couldn't keep up with a high-powered Rockford offense on Saturday, falling 15-3 and 14-5 in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Franklin Field.
Game 1: Rockford 15, Wisconsin Lutheran 3 (8 Inn.)
The Regents (15-9, 5-7 NACC) jumped out early, scoring twice in the second inning on a fielder's choice and adding a run in the third before extending the lead to 5-0 on a two-run homerun in the fourth.
The Warriors (8-19, 2-10 NACC) broke through in the sixth. Junior
Ian Rintelman (Muskego, Wis.) delivered an RBI double to plate senior
Eli Michaelis (Wauwatosa, Wis.), and junior
Aiden Montgomery (St. Louis, Mo.) followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 5-2.
RU responded decisively in the seventh, tallying six runs on five hits, highlighted by a solo homerun and a two-run double extending the lead to 11-2. Rockford added four more runs in the eighth to seal the 15-3 result.
WLC added its final run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by senior
Oliver Lopeztello (Chicago, Ill.) that scored freshman
Lincoln Thede (Appleton, Wis.).
Rintelman led Wisconsin Lutheran at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Montgomery finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, while sophomore
Ryan Pierquet (Chilton, Wis.) also recorded a hit and scored a run.
The Regents were led by Kadin Bergstrom, who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a homerun. Blaise Mace had a perfect 5-for-5 performance with an RBI, while Nate Burdin added two hits and two RBIs. On the mound, Zach Fabis earned the win, improving to 6-0 after allowing two runs on four hits over six innings with two walks and six strikeouts.
Game 2: Rockford 14, Wisconsin Lutheran 5
The Warriors briefly seized momentum in the third inning. Trailing 2-1, WLC took a 4-2 lead when junior
Colt Ratliff (Oxford, Ga.) launched a three-run homerun to left field, scoring Rintelman and Pierquet.
RU answered quickly, tying the game in the fourth with a two-run homer, and the visitors regained the lead for good in the fifth on an RBI triple. From there, Rockford steadily added to its advantage, highlighted by a solo homerun in the sixth and a three-run blast in the ninth.
Ratliff led Wisconsin Lutheran offensively, going 1-for-4 with a homerun and four RBIs. Pierquet finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Rintelman also collected two hits and scored once. The Warriors totaled eight hits and drew eight walks but stranded 11 runners.
Burdin paced Rockford with a 3-for-5 performance, including two RBIs and two runs scored. Bergstrom went 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs, and Trent Lawrence drove in four runs. Logan Koeller earned the win, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits over five innings. He walked six and struck out six.
WLC visits league-leading MSOEÂ (21-7, 12-2 NACC) on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. NACC doubleheader at MSOE Raiders Stadium. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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