Rockford, Ill. – Dominican University Baseball ventured to Rockford University for the final road doubleheader of the 2025 season.

Game 1 Results:
Dominican: 17
Rockford: 15

How it Happened:
-DU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after a two-run shot by Junior Niko Krecu.
-Rockford struck back in the bottom of the first with three runs, taking the lead.
-In the top of the second, the Stars regained their advantage after Junior Zach Helein had a bases-clearing double, which scored Graduate Student Grayson Downing, Sophomore Ty Phillips, and Senior Gavin Zappe.
-The Regents would then knot the game at 5-5 at the bottom of the second.
-Dominican surged back into the lead in the top of the third after a double by Senior Braiden Galvin lead to a double by Phillips, which brought Galvin home.
-RU was able to keep pace with DU's offense, eventually taking a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the third.
-A sacrifice fly by Krecu in the top of the fourth evened up the score, 7-7, as G. Downing was able to reach home on the play.
-Rockford added three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 10-7 lead.
-Consecutive doubles by G. Downing and Helein lead to DU adding a run I the top of the sixth, with Rockford leading now 10-8.
-In the top of the seventh, back-to-back sacrifice flies by G. Downing and Helein evened up the score at 10-10, with Zappe and Senior CJ Kalekas scoring.
-The Regents posted five runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 15-10 advantage.
-To start the top of the ninth inning, Junior Matthew Earley launched a three-run homer to left. Following Earley's at-bat, the Stars continued to apply pressure, with Krecu walking and Senior Quinton Schwartz sending a double down the left field line. Senior Braiden Galvin then brought Schwartz and Senior AJ Davies, who pinch ran for Krecu, home on a single, tying the game at 15-15. Looking to retake the lead,  Phillips drove two more runs off a single to right field, ultimately giving the Stars a 17-15 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
-Freshman Koufax Cranmer would shut the door on the Regents in the bottom of the ninth and DU would walk away victorious after being down 5 to start the ninth inning, 17-15.
-The Stars posted 25 hits, the most in a single game since 2011.

Shining Stars:
-Sophomore Ty Phillips had a career-high of 5 hits in the game alongside 3 RBIs.
-Junior Zach Helein posted a season-high of 4 hits in the game with a team-leading 5 RBIs.
-Graduate Student Grayson Downing was 3-5 with a double, triple, RBI, and 5 runs scored. Downing also broke the program record for all-time runs scored with 141 in the victory.
-Senior Braiden Galvin finished 3-6 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
-Junior Matthew Earley went 2-6 with a home run and 3 RBIs.
-Junior Niko Krecu went 2-3 with a home run and 3 RBIs.
-Senior Quinton Schwartz was 2-6 with 2 doubles.
-Freshman Koufax Cranmer was awarded the save after pitching a scoreless inning in the ninth.  

Leading the Way:
Hits: Phillips (5) 
RBI: Helein (5)
HR: Earley and Krecu (1)
2B: Helein and Schwartz (2)
3B: G. Downing (1)
IP: Hannafin (4.0)
Ks: Hannafin (5)

Game 2 Results (F/7):
Rockford: 16
Dominican: 6

How it Happened:
-Rockford opened with an explosive start to Game 2, taking a 7-0 lead by the end of the second inning.
-The Stars got on the board in the top of the third, first by an RBI double from Junior Matthew Earley, followed by Earley stealing home.
-The Regents added another run to their tally in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 8-2 in favor of RU.
-In the top of the sixth inning, DU would find more offensive success after Junior Zach Helein ripped an Rbi single to center field, which scored Senior CJ Kalekas. Earley then launched a sacrifice fly, which brought home Graduate Student Grayson Downing. The Stars went into the bottom of the sixth trailing 8-4.
-DU continued to cut into the Rockford lead, with Senior Quinton Schwartz scoring on an error followed by Senior Braiden Galvin reaching home on a wild pitch. Dominican trailed 8-6.
-Rockford put the game to bed in the bottom of the seventh inning by scoring 8 runs on 4 hits, splitting the series with a 16-6 result.

Shining Stars:
-Graduate Student Grayson Downing broke Dominican's all-time hits record with his 208^th hit in the game. Downing finished 2-4 with a walk and a run scored.
-Junior Zach Helein went 2-3 with an RBI and run scored.
-Junior Matthew Earley was 2-3 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and a run scored.
-Senior CJ Kalekas finished 2-3 with a walk and a run scored.  

Leading the Way:
Hits: 4 Players (2)
RBI: Earley (2)
2B: Earley (2)
SB: Earley and Phillips (1)
HBP: Helein and Schwartz (1)
IP: Anton (5.0)
Ks: Anton (2)

What's Next:
Dominican University Baseball moves to 16-22 overall, 7-15 in the conference and 4-11 away from Wintrust Field. The Stars will wrap up their regular season at home on Friday, May 2^nd against Illinois Institute of Technology for Senior Night. Game 1 of Senior Night starts at 4:00 p.m.

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