FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford College softball team dropped a pair of games to New Jersey City University and Curry College Tuesday night at the Lee County Sports Complex.
In game 1 against New Jersey City, the first inning saw the only action as both teams combined for 4 hits in the game. In the bottom of the 1st inning with runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out for NJCU, NJCU attempted to steal 2nd base. Rockford threw down to 2nd base attempting to cut off the throw and throw home to get an out at the plate. Instead miscommunication lead to the ball sailing into center field allowing both runs to score giving NJCU a quick 2-0 lead. Unfortunatly for Rockford, those were the only runs allowed all game by either team as NJCU held on for the 2-0 victory.
The game turned into a pitching duel as Sophomore Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) went 6 innings, striking out 6 while allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run. New Jersey City's Ashley O' Beirne went 7 innings while allowing 2 hits and striking 9 Regents.
In game 2 against Curry College, Rockford got on the board in the top of the 1st when freshmen Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) delivered a 2 out single to give the Regents a quick 2-0 lead. The Regents entered the top of the 4th inning tied at 2-2 when Rockford added 4 runs courtesy of senior Jossilyn Jones (Rockford, Ill./Guilford). Jones stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and 2 outs and delivered a line drive single to center field. Fortunatly the center fielder misplayed the ball allowing the speedy Jones to come all the way around and score giving the Regents a 6-2 lead.
Rockford wouldn't be on top for long as they gave the 4 runs right back to Curry in large part to 3 Regent errors in the inning putting the score at 6-6 through 4 innings.
Curry rallied in the bottom of the 6th to add two more runs pushing the score to 8-6. The Regents had a chance in the top of the 7th as senior Nicole Lawler (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) lead off the inning by reaching on a Curry error. Brittney Bura then followed with single to right field to put Regents on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Senior Alexis Ford (Courtland, Ill./DeKalb) stepped up to the plate and delivered a line drive up the middle to center field only to see Curry's center fielder come up throwing to the plate to nail Lawler trying to score from 2nd.
That was as close as the Regents would get as Rockford fell to Curry College 8-6. The Regents have dropped 4 straight after winning their first two games of the season. Rockford will look to get back on track as they Wooster and North Park on Thursday in Cape Coral.
