Baseball Rolls Past Regents For Sweep

MEQUON, Wis. – The CUW baseball team moved closer to .500 on Saturday with a sweep over the Rockford Regents with scores of 2-1 and 7-1, improving to 13-14 overall and 8-6 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) action.

The Blue and White also improved their home record to an impressive 8-1, recording their fourth straight victory from Kapco Park. 

Game one of the doubleheader featured a tight contest where Rockford held a slim 1-0 lead until the fourth inning when the Falcons tied it up following a wild pitch that scored freshman Luke Heinkel (Brookfield, Wis.), who singled earlier in the inning. 

After a scoreless top of the fifth inning, where junior pitcher Zach Slome (Schaumburg, Ill.) shut down the Regents, the Falcons took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. 

With one out, freshman Jordan Vasquez ripped a ball down the left field line for a solo home run to secure the go-ahead and eventually a game-winning run as the Falcons defense continued to make plays and keep Rockford scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

Once again, Zach Slome had a strong outing, as he improved to 4-2 on the season, pitching a complete game, giving up only one earned run and striking out seven batters. 

Strong pitching carried over into the second game as the Falcons took the 7-1 victory, as sophomore pitcher Tyler Bartczak (Crestwood, Ill.) moved to 2-1 on the year, as he pitched five complete innings, striking out eight, while not giving up an earned run. 

Meanwhile sophomore Nikolai Nawracaj (New Lenox, Ill.) pitched three innings and also gave up zero earned runs, while freshman Alex Kuntz (Richfield, Wis.) closed out the game with a strikeout. 

Ultimately, the Falcons wasted no time in scoring in their second bout against the Regents, as an error scored senior Jack Owens (Chicago, Ill.) in the bottom of the first. 

The second run of the inning came courtesy of a single down the left field line from sophomore Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.). 

The chain of quality at-bats continued, as sophomore Tyler Murray (Kankakee, Ill.) sent the ball to right field, scoring yet another Falcon, as they enjoyed a 3-0 lead. 

Jordan Vazquez picked up where he left in the first game and again added another RBI as he put a ball in play to bring Matt Miller across home. 

Two more runs would come throughout the game, as Tyler Murray through the left side for an RBI in the bottom of the fifth, while senior Cole Aguirre (Chino Hills, Calif.) gave Concordia the comfortable 7-1 lead with a two-RBI single up the middle to score the runners who were in scoring position.

Despite giving one run, the Falcons cruised past the Regents to secure the sweep over the NACC opponent.

The Falcons will resume competition on Tuesday, April 16^th when they host the Sabres of Marian. The first game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.