ROCKFORD, IL - Bay College Baseball (3-9-1) would drop a doubleheader on the road Friday losing 4-1 and 9-3 to the Rock Valley College Golden Eagles (11-2) on Friday afternoon.
GAME 1 - ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE - 4, BAY COLLEGE - 1
The Golden Eagles took a lead early, using three singles to score a run in the first, and an RBI double by Bryce Burton (FR, Sugar Grove, IL) in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Rock Valley added to the lead in the fifth, with Carlos Arteaga (SO, Rockford, IL) picking up an RBI single and then scoring on Bill Blank's (FR, Cary, IL) double.
Meanwhile the Norse would miss out on golden opportunities throughout the matchup. They would leave ten runners on base in the game. Perhaps the biggest scoring opportunity for the visitors came in the second, as they would manage to load the bases with one out. A little bit of bad luck would end the scoring threat as a ball off of Jeff Allen's (FR, Watervliet, MI) bat would stick in the soft ground, inches from the plate, allowing the catcher to pick it up, get the force at the plate, and easily complete the double play with a throw to first. Bay would leave runners on first and third in the fourth inning, and finally score in the sixth. With two outs and a runner on first, Tyler Skufca (SO, Escanaba, MI) grounded a ball up the middle for a base hit, and Allen would line a ball that would deflect of the tip of the first baseman's glove, falling for an RBI single. Bay would strand two runners on however, and leave one more on base in the seventh, as they were unable to rally.
Jonathan Kennedy (FR, Seneca, KY) earned the win on the mound, going five innings, giving up just two hits, walking six, and striking out one. Blank and Arteaga finished with two hits in three at bats.
Connor Olson (FR, Washburn, WI) took the loss, pitching all six innings for the Norse. He would walk just one, work around 11 hits, to give up three earned runs, and strike out two. Skufca was two for two with a walk.
GAME 2 - ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE - 9, BAY COLLEGE - 3
Rock Valley would get two in the first on a pair of hits, and take advantage of some Bay errors and a couple of hits to add two more in the third. Meanwhile the Norse bats were baffled by Zac Cummins (FR, Freport, IL) who would pitch five innings, give up just two hits, walk one, and strike out six.
Bay remained patient as the bullpen took over for the Golden Eagles. The Norse would draw three walks with one out, and score their first run on a wild pitch. Flynn Morrison (FR, Melbourne, Australia) would make it a one run game, driving in two with a key single.
A big sixth inning would give Rock Valley a commanding lead. Drew Behling (SO, Waupun, WI) tripled in a run, but was caught in a rundown on the ensuing groundball. A controversial call would place him at third safely, setting Rock Valley up with runners on second and third with no one out. Bay would elect to intentionally walk the next hitter to load the bases, and bring the infield in. Tanner Williams (SO, Lansing, KS) would make the Norse pay, lining a single that would bring in two runs. Cole Ludeking (FR, Freport, IL) added to it, driving in another run with a single, and a sacrifice fly would make it a six-run inning for the home team. Bay would strand two in the seventh, and fall by a six run deficit.
Cummins picked up the win for the Golden Eagles. Ludeking wound up three for four with an RBI and a run scored. Collin Meinert (SO, Antigo, WI) would go two for four with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored.
Bay would collect just four hits in the game and leave 11 runners on. Kyler Moir (FR, Hillman, MI) took the loss on the mound, going five and two thirds, giving up seven earned runs, nine hits, two walks, and striking out five.
The Norse will continue a four game series with Rock Valley on Saturday afternoon. The doubleheader is scheduled for a noon start. On Sunday they will travel to Milwaukee to play a doubleheader against Milwaukee Area Technical College. Those games are scheduled for a noon first pitch.