Lisle, Ill. - Continuing action in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Baseball Tournament, the No. 4 seeded Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks took on the No. 8 seeded Rockford University Regents. Luckily, the teams didn't have to worry about any weather delays for the Friday contest. Following two scoreless innings to begin the elimination game, the Regents got on the board in the third inning. Although the Hawks picked up one run in the sixth, the Regents added another run on their own in the seventh to lead 3-1. During the eighth inning, the Hawks got their bats swinging, putting up a 5-run inning to take a 6-3 lead. With one final chance, the Regents added two runs in the ninth, but the Hawks were able to hold onto their lead as they won the game 6-5 to move ahead in tournament play.
Illinois Tech 6 - Rockford 5
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With no runs scored between the first two innings, the Regents put the first runs up on the board during the third inning. Jake Bilotta began the inning with a lead off single to left field. After a fly-out, Joseph Stagowski singled, but advanced to second on an error while Bilotta was able to reach home for the first run of the game. Stagowski then scored from an Alex Perez single to left field. At the end of the third inning, the Regents led 2-0.
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Two scoreless innings would follow before the Hawks picked up their first run of the game in the sixth inning. Michael Paxson led off the inning with a single to right field to get on base before advancing to third on a Connor Blake single to right field. After a pitching change, Samuel Sproule singled, loading the bases with no outs. Although Michael Lindenmuth would go on to ground into a double play, Paxson would reach home to get the Hawks on the board. At the end of the sixth inning, the Hawks trailed the Regents 2-1.
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In the seventh inning, the Regents took back a 2-run lead with Stagowski hitting a solo home run to right center field. After seven innings, the Regents led the Hawks 3-1.
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The Hawks then got their bats swinging in the eighth inning to take the lead. With one out, Paxson stepped up to plate and hit a solo home run to left field, bringing the Hawks within one of the Regents. Blake would go on to single through the left side and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sproule would then double to left center field, placing runners on first and third with one out. Blake reached home during a Lindenmuth bunt, which also advanced Sproule to third. Then, the Hawks pulled off a double steal when Lindenmuth stole second and Sproule stole home to give the Hawks a 4-3 lead. Lucas Waunn joined in with a single to right field which advanced Lindenmuth to third base. Tanner Jenkins would enter the game to pinch run for Waunn. The fifth run of the game for the Hawks then came off a Luke Yachnin sac-bunt that allowed Lindenmuth to score and advanced Jenkins to third. Jenkins then scored the final run for the Hawks during a wild pitch. At the end of the eighth inning, the Hawks led the Regents 6-3.
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During the bottom of the ninth inning, the Regents would put up a fight, scoring two runs; one of a sac-fly, and one off a wild pitch, but would come up short as the Hawks earned a 6-5 victory to advance in the NACC Tournament.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
Regents Standouts
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Jake Bilotta - 2-for-5 with a double and 2 runs
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Joseph Stagowski - 2-for-4 with a home run, 1 RBI, and 2 runs
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Alex Perez - 2-for-5 with 1 RBI
Up Next
The Hawks return to action tomorrow in Game 7 of the NACC Baseball Tournament. The Hawks will take on the winner of No. 2 seeded Aurora University vs No. 7 seeded Concordia University of Wisconsin. The game will take place at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. with a 1:00 PM first pitch.
