Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
LOVES PARK, Ill. - Playing in Road Ranger Stadium, site of next week's NAC Baseball Tournament, the Edgewood College baseball team hoped to take a big step to earning a return trip to Loves Park. Unfortunately, the Regents stood up to the challenge and extended the Eagles' losing streak to five games with 3-1 and 9-3 victories to drop the Eagles to 10-8 and sixth place in the league.
In the first game, the Eagles couldn't solve Rockford starter Travis Mohr. Mohr held the Eagles to just four hits over seven and a third innings to earn his fourth win of the season. After Rockford opened up a 2-0 lead in the third inning, the Eagles cut the margin in half. Seth Astroth and Steve Binder singled to put runners at first and third with one out. Cory McCullick hit a ground ball to second base, but the Regents were unable to turn a double play on the speedy McCullick as Astroth scored from first.
The Regents tacked on an insurance run in the seventh and it looked like they would need it as the Eagles mounted a ninth inning rally off Regent reliever Zach Jones. Tim Barry doubled and Dan Gugel walked to open the inning. After a fly out, Jones attempted to pick off pinch runner Treye Dennison from first base, but is throw went wild putting the tying runs at second and third with one out. However, Jones escaped the jam by getting Astroth to foul out to first base and Matt Werner to go down on strikes to end the game.
Starter Scott Winters pitched well for the Eagles giving up two earned runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out six. Justin Dahmen had two hits for the Eagles in four trips to the plate, while McCullick added his team-high 15th double of the season.
In game two, the Eagles surrendered multiple runs in the second, third and fourth inning and were never able to gain the lead. The Regents led 8-2 after four innings and stranded 14 Eagle baserunners. Edgewood College actually out-hit the Regents 12-8 but could only generate three runs.
Trailing 2-0 in the third, Astroth grounded into a fielder's choice which scored Gugel from third base. The Regents posted three more in the bottom of the third, but the Eagles got one back in the fourth. Dahmen singled and moved to and moved to second on a single by Gugel. Barry then singled through the left side to drive home Dahmen and make the score 5-2. However, the Regents tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth and the Eagles were unable to generate more scoring. A fielding error on Rockford in the ninth gave the Eagles their final run of the game.
Freshman Glenn Nowell, coming off his outstanding complete game victory over Aurora, gave up seven earned runs on seven hits and struck out one. Zach Gura allowed just one hit in the eight batters he faced to finish the game. Every starter in the Eagle lineup had at least one hit with Gugel, Barry and Mogensen getting two each. All 12 Eagle hits were singles and the Eagles had a hit in seven of the nine innings.
With just four Northern Athletics Conference games remaining, the Eagles have no room for any more losses. Last season, the Eagles missed the NAC Tournament with a 13-9 conference mark. One more loss would assure them of having no better record in 2009. Edgewood College will host Dominican University in a doubleheader tomorrow at Stampfl Field. The first game is slated for 4:30 p.m. Despite previous announcements, tomorrow's game will not have a web cast available. Live stats can be accessed at EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
