Baseball sweeps Rockford in home opener

MEQUON, Wis. – The Falcons won their first two conference games of the season in their home opener this Sunday as Concordia Wisconsin swept Rockford 6-4, 4-2. 

THE BASICS
-Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 6, Rockford 4 | Concordia Wisconsin 4, Rockford 2
-Records: Concordia Wisconsin 6-8 (2-0 NACC), Rockford 4-11 (0-4 NACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The opening game of the series was a steady battle, with no more than two runs being scored in any inning.
-The Falcons got on the board first with an RBI single by Sam Beers (Janesville, Wis.).
-The Regents answered with two in the top of the third to take the lead.
-Beers once again drove in a run for the Falcons in the bottom of the third to even the game at 2-2.
-Rockford retook the lead in the fourth as Hunter Fiorito doubled in a run.
-Joseph Zywiciel (Bolingbrook, Ill.) evened the game at 3-3 in the fifth with an RBI single.
-In the sixth, the Falcons strung together a two-run inning to take the lead for the definitive time. Sean Tillmon (Plainfield, Ill.) walked with the bases loaded to score the go-ahead run, then Tyler Haffey (Mount Prospect, Ill.) hit a sac fly to center to put CUW up 5-3.
-Tillmon added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single to give the Falcons a 3-run lead heading into the top of the ninth.
-Beau Wills (Coal City, Ill.) pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the win for the Falcons.
-Alex Prickett (Franklin, Wis.) got the win with only one run allowed on four hits in four innings of work.
-The second game was lower scoring, but the final score once again benefited the Falcons.
-CUW had a two-run third inning on the strength of Spencer Garnett's (Clarendon Hills, Ill) RBI single and with taking advantage of a run scoring on an error.
-The Regents would score twice to even the game, but the Falcons had another two-run inning in the eighth to take the game-deciding lead. Johannes Haakenson (Janesville, Wis.) flew around the bases with an RBI triple to give CUW the lead before Beers doubled him in two batters later to add on an insurance run.
-Ryan Green (Green Bay, Wis.) pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth seal the win and earn the save.
-Matthew Olig (Plymouth, Wis.) earned the win, pitching eight innings while allowing only two runs, one earned, with seven strikeouts.

UP NEXT
-The Falcons have a quick turnaround as they travel to face Aurora in a doubleheader on Monday, April 1, starting at 1pm.