TUCSON, AZ. – It was a late night on the East Coast, but for Wesleyan baseball it was another evening loss on Wednesday as the team was barely held off by Rockford University after four runs in the final innings brought Wesleyan within a point in a 7-6 loss during the Spring Break trip from the Kino Sports Complex.

Closing the first inning, the Cardinals cut the score in half after the Regents scored two runs to open the game. Marking the first hit at the bottom of the first, Ernie Little '26 tripled to right field and would be left there through two batters before he was able to take home on a ground out by William Moore '26.

Leading the charge once again at the bottom of the third with four more runs on the board from the Regents, Little stole two bases on his way to a second run. Singling to center field, Little stole second and reached third on a first baseman error. As Luke LaSaracina '25 struck out, Little stole home, unearned.

The Cardinals loaded the bases in the fifth but could not rally to reach home. Christian Boudreau '25 stole second after hitting a single to the third basemen and waited for another steal or advancement by his teammates. Both Little and LaSaracina walked, filing in behind Boudreau, but a flyout to center field by Evan Diaz '25 shut down the inning.

The Regents scored their final run of the game in the seventh to make it a five-point lead, Zach Fabis earning the run on a sacrificed fly.

Jake Acker '27 was the tinder to the fire for the Cardinals, launching a comeback in the seventh with a single to third base. Acker reached second on a ground out and Boudreau walked on his next at bat. With Little next in the rotation, Acker ran third base and scored on Little singles center field single. Little's next move was to steal second and reached third after LaSaracina fielders choice advancement gave way for both Little and LaSaracina to fill third and second base. Little's team leading third run of the game came as Moore struck out and took off on a passed ball.

Now down by just three points in the final inning of the game, LaSaracina made his way to third on two walks after his own play was reached on an error by the Regents' third baseman. Troy Ashkinos' '28 sacrificed fly was enough for LaSaracina to take home and bring the game within two. Diaz, now on third, scored his own run of the game unearned on a wild pitch to Moore. James Marsden '26, pinch running for Moore, was the third out for the Cardinals to end the game.

Little led all Cardinals with three runs on three hits, clocking a triple and a RBI. Little stole three bases and sits just six bases away from tying the program's career stolen bases record. Shamus Kelly '28 pitched five innings, allowing one run and four hits while striking out four. Cole Perkin '28 and Tanner Mahon '27 each saw two innings on the mound, Perkin striking out five batters while allowing just one hit.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday, March 14, when they face Northern State at 4:30 p.m. EST.