The Beloit College baseball team outhit Rockford University Thursday night at the Rivets Stadium in Loves Park, Illinois but ended up falling to the Regents 6-5 in 13 innings.
The 13-inning affair is the second-longest game in at least 20 years for the program, bested only by a 14-inning win over MSOE in 2017. As the at bats piled up in extra innings, the final tally of seven for
Garrison Ferone tied the program record for at bats in a game.
The Buccaneers had no shortage of opportunities but left 11 runners on base during the game.
Rockford struck first plating a run in the bottom of the first but the Bucs had the equalizer in the next frame.
Brett Kiger singled up the middle, advanced on a wild pitch, then advanced again on another wild pitch and ended up scoring on a Regent throwing error.
The bottom of the third had four added to Rockford's total courtesy of four hits as the Regents reclaimed the lead 5-1.
Beloit threatened with bases loaded and no outs in the top of the fourth but couldn't push a run across. The Bucs cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth sparked by a
Matt O'Leary double to left field. He came in to score on a sacrifice fly from Kiger later in the inning.
Ferone and O'Leary notched back-to-back doubles to score two more in the top of the sixth to narrow the gap to 5-4 before knotting the game 5-5 in the top of the seventh. Kiger registered the equalizer scoring on a wild pitch.
That score held through regulation and into extras. Both teams had opportunities throughout but it wasn't until the bottom of the 13th that the game saw a winning run touch home. A walk followed by a sacrifice bunt put a Regent in scoring position. A popup gave Beloit two outs before an infield single put runners on the corners. Another walk loaded the bases. In the next at bat, an inside pitch caromed off the catcher's mitt and just far enough away for the runner to score for the final.
Ferone was 4-for-7 to lead the Buc offense. O'Leary was 2-for-5 with both of his hits going for doubles.
Eamon Burke registered the start and posted a no decision after three innings of work.
Tommy Murray had a fantastic outing in relief. In six innings of work, Murray no-hit the Regents and struck out 10 retiring 19 of 22 batters faced.
Ryan Deany suffered his first loss of the season allowing one hit and one run in 3.2 innings on the mound.
