VERONA, Wis. – Mother Nature provided the perfect opening day setting, but Edgewood College starting pitchers Bridger Berrett and Andy Swanson delivered the results. Berrett and Swanson each posted double digit strikeouts as the Eagles swept Rockford University for the first time since 1999. The Eagles claimed the first game 9-3 and won the second contest 5-2.
Edgewood College (6-9, 3-1 NACC) took advantage of six Regent errors in the first game. The Eagles scored four runs in the first two innings, three of which were unearned. Nick Lehner drove in a run in the first with an RBI fielder's choice and Andrew Lauritzen scored on a wild pitch. In the second inning, Jacob Yellovich walked, and then scored all the way to first when the Regents committed two errors following Peter Hefty's single. Brodie Engel then drove in the fourth run with a squeeze bunt.
Rockford University (9-8, 2-2 NACC) cut the Eagles lead to 5-3 in the top of the seventh inning, but Edgewood College blew the game open in the bottom of the frame. Engel scored on a Rockford throwing error before Lehner provided the dagger. Lehner stroked a bases loaded single that scored Lauritzen and Pat Manning, and Zack Creekmore came all the way around from first when the Regent's left fielder overran the ball.
Berrett was strong from start to finish, striking out two Regents in the first inning and finishing with 10 punch outs in his Stampfl Field debut. He allowed seven hits and just two earned runs. Steve Gavin replaced Berrett in the eighth inning and didn't allow a hit. Creekmore went 2-for-3 in the game, while Manning was 2-for-5 with a double. Lehner had one hit, but collected three runs batted in.
In the second game, the Eagles scored in the first inning for the 10th time in 15 games, plating three runs. Creekmore drove in Danny Appino and Pat Manning, and then scored on Lehner's sacrifice fly. The Regents got a run back in the third inning, but Creekmore did more damage in the fourth. The senior from Winthrop Harbor, Ill. slammed his first home run of the season and second of his career, to lead off the inning. Four batters later, Peter Hefty singled to right field to score Lehner who had been hit by a pitch.
On the mound Swanson was lights out. He struck out a career-high 12 hitters and gave up just one earned run for his first win of the season. AJ Verhage came on with a runner on first in the ninth inning and closed out the game for his second save of the season.
Edgewood College will continue their NACC schedule on Saturday at Marian University. The Eagles and Sabres doubleheaders will get underway at 12:00 p.m.
