Published On: June 15th, 2025

By Jacob Cotsonika

The Rockford Rivets hit four home runs to propel themselves past the Royal Oak Leprechauns for a 9-4 victory on Sunday afternoon. 

Just like yesterday’s 3-0 win for the Leprechauns, one team took the lead in the first inning and never looked back. This time, it was Rockford’s turn. The Rivets put up four in the opening frame after the first five batters reached base through three hits, a walk, and an error.

In the fourth, Rockford made it 7-0 on its first two long balls of the contest. The first came from leadoff man Zeb Allen (Central Arkansas) and Jayce Blalock (Little Rock) hit a two-run shot shortly thereafter.

Nolan Belcher (Kentucky) then hit a solo round-tripper an inning later and Ny’zaiah Thompson (Modesto JC) left the yard in the eighth.

Royal Oak got all of its runs later in the game. The Leprechauns finally got on the scoreboard during the seventh inning on a Max Orozco (Oakland) RBI groundout. The rest came in the eighth after Tristan Crane (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) and Devan Zirwas (Eastern Michigan) roped back-to-back doubles. Crane’s two-bagger had one RBI attached. Zirwas’ had two. 

The Leprechauns only got out-hit 11-10, but the 4-0 home run differential is the main reason for the disparity on the scoreboard. Royal Oak had three extra-base hits, all of which were doubles.

Rockford’s pitching staff and defense didn’t gift Royal Oak’s hitters much, either. The Rivets did not commit an error and only handed out two walks and one hit by pitch.

Interestingly, every single starter for the Leprechauns recorded a base hit on Sunday. Only Jack Dauer (Yale) had multiple hits, though. He went 2-for-4 with one of Royal Oak’s three doubles.

Next up for Royal Oak — now 9-11 on the season — is a brief return home for a two-game series against the Wausau Woodchucks. The Leprechauns went 1-1 over a two-game set in Wausau on June 3 and 4. Following this upcoming series on Monday and Tuesday, Royal Oak will hit the road for an eight-game, seven-day road trip in what will be its longest stretch without a home game this season.