Hur's big night lifts RiverHawks

06/11/2012 10:17 PM - LOVES PARK, Ill. – Michael Hur’s two-homer night and Ziggie VanderWall’s strong outing on the mound Monday helped the Rockford RiverHawks prevail 12-8 over the Windy City ThunderBolts in the series opener.  Hur’s first homer, a solo shot to left field off starter Mike Recchia in the fourth inning , gave Rockford a 3-2 lead. The RiverHawks would score four runs in the fifth inning, all after two outs, capped off by an opposite-field, three-run homer by Hur, his team-leading sixth of the year, to put Rockford ahead 7-2. Hur added an RBI infield single in the eighth inning to finish 3-for-5 with five RBI, the second straight day a Rockford player tallied that mark as Javier Herrera was 4-for-5 with five RBI in a 16-5 win over the Miners Sunday.  “We have a quality middle of the lineup guy (Hur) batting in the seventh hole. He’s an excellent hitter,” manager Rich Austin said. Ziggie VanderWall (2-1) earned the win on the mound for Rockford,  pitching 5 2/3 innings while giving up six hits and four runs, three earned, walking three, and striking out eight batters, including the first four batters of the game. Recchia (3-1) was saddled with the loss as he gave up 10 hits and nine runs, eight earned, while striking out 10 in 6 1/3 innings pitched to raise his season ERA from 1.37 to 3.31.  The ThunderBolts would two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to close the gap to 7-6, but the RiverHawks would score two in the seventh and three in the eighth to increase the lead to 12-6. Mickey Cassidy entered the game in the eighth inning and earned his first save of the season, giving up two runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched.  Javier Herrera went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, raising his season average to .410. Matt Greener went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles, and Daniel Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. Chris Wade went 3-for-6 for the ThunderBolts, while Jereck West was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Rockford sends righty Mike Lee (0-0, 0.84 ERA) to the mound to make his second start of the season on Tuesday, and Windy City will counter with righty Stephen Sauer (2-0, 2.31), with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5) Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.

RiverHawks roll 16-5 to avoid sweep

06/10/2012 5:37 PM - LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford RiverHawks’ bats came alive Sunday to beat the Southern Illinois Miners 16-5 and avoid a sweep.  Rockford set season highs in hits and runs with 16 runs and 17 hits off Southern Illinois pitching. Miners' starter Ian Campbell (3-1) lasted just three innings, giving up 11 hits and 13 runs, seven earned, and walking two. The Miners took an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Jake Kaase, but Javier Herrera would put the RiverHawks ahead with a two-run homer, his third of the season and second in as many nights. Herrera would also have three RBI singles and finish the day 4-for-5 with five RBI to raise his average to .392, and he became the first RiverHawks player to record five RBI in a game this season.  The RiverHawks sent 11 batters to the plate in a seven-run second inning that saw Matt Greener belt a three-run blast to left field, his third of the season. Rockford would add four more in the third inning to take a 13-1 advantage, including a two-run single by Devin Shepherd.  Drew Rucinski (2-1) pitched five strong innings for the win in his first start of the season on the mound, giving up two hits and an unearned run while striking out six batters. Rucinski previously appeared in six games out of the bullpen for the RiverHawks. “He’s a competitor out there,” manager Rich Austin told NTA FM. “He throws strikes and kept the hitters off balance. He gave us a great performance. Schepel did a great job of the bullpen.”  Kyle Schepel allowed an unearned run in three innings of relief in his professional debut out of the RiverHawks’ bullpen. Steve Anderson had his first professional hit and finished 1-for-5 with an RBI. Evan Button went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBI out of the leadoff spot for the RiverHawks.  Second baseman Will Block was 3-for-3 for the Miners. The RiverHawks return to action tomorrow night and play host to the Windy City Thunderbolts on WIFR Night. They have not announced a starting pitcher for the game, but the Thunderbolts will send right-hander Mike Recchia (3-0, 1.37 ERA) to the mound, with a first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5) Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.

Miners thump RiverHawks 12-3

06/09/2012 9:05 PM - LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners used two big innings to pick up a 12-3 win Saturday over the Rockford RiverHawks at RiverHawks Stadium.  Javier Herrera’s two-out solo homer to left put the RiverHawks up 2-1 in the third inning, but the Miners answered with five runs in the fourth inning to go ahead 6-2, including a three-run homer by Jake Kaase, who went 3-for-6 on the night. Southern Illinois would score four more in the fifth, including a home run by Matt Fields, to go up 10-2.  Brian Fowler (3-0) earned the win on the mound, giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out six in five innings. Rockford starter Eric Rohe (0-1) would take the loss in his professional debut, giving up nine runs on ten hits while striking out four in 4 1/3 innings pitched.  Michael Hur would add a leadoff solo homer, his fourth of the season, in the sixth inning off reliever Ben Shivers to cut the deficit to 10-3, but the Miners would add a run in the seventh inning and one in a ninth inning that saw the RiverHawks commit four errors. Rockford committed six errors in the game. Steven Anderson made his professional debut as a replacement in left field, going 0-for-2 at the plate. The RiverHawks will send righty Drew Rucinski to the mound tomorrow to make his first start of the season in the final game of the series against the Miners. Rucinski has appeared in six contests out of the bullpen this season, going 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA. The Miners will counter with righty Dave Harden (3-1, 2.63 ERA), with a first pitch set for 3:05 p.m.  Tomorrow is YMCA Family Day. Kids (ages 3-12) get in for $2 and have the opportunity to run the bases after the game as well as get autographs from RiverHawks’ players.  The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5) Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com

Six-run ninth beats RiverHawks

06/08/2012 10:19 PM - LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners erased three three-run deficits and rallied for six runs in the ninth inning to beat the Rockford RiverHawks 14-11 on Friday night. The RiverHawks would hold an 11-8 lead into the ninth inning, but Ken Gregory would hit a two-run homer off Theron Minium to close the gap to 11-10. Cannon Lester would tie the game with a two-out RBI single and Miners’ center fielder Chad Maddox’s go-ahead three-run homer off Cliff Archibald (1-1), who blew the save, broke an 11-11 tie and lifted the Miners to victory. “They put together good at-bats and got clutch hits,” manager Rich Austin told NTA FM.  Rockford jumped on starter Southern Illinois starter Thomas Campbell in the first inning as an RBI double by Javier Herrera and two-run homer by Devin Shepherd, his first of the season, put the RiverHawks up 3-0. The Miners would answer with three runs in the second, but the RiverHawks would get three in the bottom half of the inning to go up 6-3, including a solo homer by Michael Hur, his third of the season.   However, the Miners would overcome a 7-4 deficit with three unearned runs in the fifth on an error with the bases loaded by starter Nick Sarianides.  With the game tied at 7-7, Rockford’s Evan Button would deliver in the fifth inning with a two-out, three-run homer, his first of the season, to put the RiverHawks up 10-7.  The Miners would score one on a solo homer by Jake Kaase, but the RiverHawks would score one in the sixth to go up 11-8. Starter Nick Sarianides lasted six innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs, five earned, while striking out a season-high eight batters.  Anthony Collazo (1-0) earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief, and Max Peterson pitched a perfect ninth inning for his seventh save of the season.  The RiverHawks tied a season-high with 15 hits. Button went 1-for-3 with four RBI on the night, while Shepherd was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. The RiverHawks return to action on Saturday night against the Miners, with a first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. The first 1000 fans receive a RiverHawks logo baseball, sponsored by the Illinois Railway Museum.  The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5) Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.

RiverHawks shut down in series finale

06/03/2012 5:27 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – London starter Johan Gonzalez (2-0) allowed an unearned run on five hits over seven strong innings, and the London Rippers beat the Rockford RiverHawks 12-1 on Sunday to take two of three in the series.

The Rippers were able to get on the board early with two runs in the first inning as Rockford starter Kevin Patterson (0-2) allowed four straight two-out walks and a wild pitch to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. The Rippers were able to score five more in the second inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Tony Delmonico.

Patterson would not make it out of the second inning, allowing six runs, four earned, on two hits and five walks in 1 1/3 innings. 

The Rippers would get another in the third off reliever Jordan Stern on an RBI single by Joash Brodin, who finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI to raise his batting average to .379. They would add another in the fourth off Stern on a homer by Zach Larson and would put two more on the board in the fifth.

The RiverHawks would get on the board in the seventh inning, scoring an unearned run off Gonzalez on a fielder’s choice and throwing error by Delmonico.   London’s David Christensen would add a solo homer to extend the lead to 12-1. 

Javier Herrera would go 2-for-4 to extend his hit streak to 10 games and raise his average to .375 on the season. Evan Button went 2-for-4 to raise his average to .326. 

The RiverHawks are off tomorrow, but they hit the road to face the Traverse City Beach Bums starting Tuesday. The RiverHawks will send lefty Kasey Kiker (0-0, 9.00 ERA) to make his second start in a RiverHawks uniform.  Traverse City has not announced a starter.   First pitch is slated for 6:05 CDT. 

The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5). Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.

RiverHawks fall 5-3 to Rippers

06/02/2012 8:35 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford RiverHawks were beaten 5-3 by the London Rippers on Saturday night to halt their winning streak at three games.

Justino Cuevas’ two-run double in the fourth inning gave the Rippers a 2-1 lead they never relinquished. The RiverHawks got on the board early with a sacrifice fly from Jet Butler, but Cuevas’ double in the fourth would put the visitors ahead for good. In the top of the fifth inning, a wild pitch by Rockford starter Nick Sarianides (1-2), and an RBI single by Clifton Thomas would put the visitors up 4-1.

Sarianides went five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits while walking five and hitting two while striking out four. 

The RiverHawks would cut the lead to 4-3 on a two-run double by Jet Butler, who finished 1-for-3 with three RBI on the night. However, Butler was thrown out trying to stretch the double to a triple, ending the Rockford fifth inning. 

London’s Matt Schimpf (1-0) would earn the win on the mound, giving up three runs on eight hits in six innings pitched.

The RiverHawks’ bullpen would come in to keep the deficit at 4-3 into the eighth inning, when Javier Herrera was thrown out at the plate by Thomas from left field on a single off the bat of Evan Button, ending the inning. 

The Rippers would tack on an unearned run in the ninth off Rockford’s Mike Lee as Thomas legged out an infield single that scored Stephen Cardullo following Cardullo’s steal and throwing error by catcher Elliot Hagburg. 

“They got key hits, and we hurt ourselves early,” manager Rich Austin told NTA FM. “We had a couple of opportunities, but we weren’t able to capitalize on those.”

London’s Andrew Chilcoat pitched three innings of scoreless relief to earn his first save of the season. 

Rockford’s Brandon Anderson went 3-for-3 with three infield singles, a run scored, and a stolen base. 

The RiverHawks send southpaw Kevin Patterson (0-1, 7.71 ERA) to the mound, and the Rippers will counter with righty Yohan Gonzalez (1-0, 2.25 ERA).  

First pitch is slated for 3:05 p.m., and tomorrow is YMCA Family Day. Kids (ages 3-12) get in for $2 and have the opportunity to run the bases after the game. 

The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5). Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.

RiverHawks edge CornBelters 7-5

05/30/2012 9:43 PM - LOVES PARK, Ill. – The RockFord RiverHawks beat the Normal CornBelters 7-5 on Wednesday night, winning back-to-back games for the first time in the young 2012 season.  The CornBelters held a 4-3 lead into the fifth inning, but the RiverHawks scored four in the fifth to take a commanding 7-4 lead, highlghted by a go-ahead single by Elliot Hagburg and RBI walk by Carlos Luciano.  Rockford starter Ziggie VanderWall (1-0) earned the win on the mound in his professional debut, giving up eight hits and four runs, two earned, and striking out four in five innings of work. “He gave us five strong innings,” manager Rich Austin said. “He did really well for us.” Rockford’s Mike Lee earned his first save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth.  Normal starter Tyler Stovall did not record an out in the game, as he failed to retire a batter in the first inning. Reliever Jacob Liedka (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, in 1 1/3 innings of work.  The RiverHawks jumped to an early 3-0 lead on Stovall, but Rich Mascheri would come in and get out of a jam to prevent a bigger inning. The CornBelters would score a run in the second, two in the third , and one in the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead as Hagburg’s throwing error came around to score.    The RiverHawks would respond with four runs in the fifth off of Liedka to take a 7-4 lead. The CornBelters would get one run in the eighth inning off Cliff Archibald, but Lee preserved the win for the RiverHawks . Matt Greener and Javier Herrera would go 3-for-5 for the RiverHawks, and Herrera would  extend his hit streak to seven games and raise his average to .372 on the season. Jet Butler would go 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the RiverHawks. The RiverHawks go for the sweep against the CornBelters on Thursday.  First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5). Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.