ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford College softball team looked to turn things around on Saturday when it hosted the Concordia University Chicago Cougars. The Regents offense was hoping to get things going as it has been held scoreless in its previous 5 games. Rockford got on the board early in game one when sophomore catcher Jessica Segalla (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) ripped an RBI single through the left side of the infield to tie the game. However the ball also got past the Cougar left fieldier allowing Segalla to score on the play as well and give Rockford a 2-1 lead.
Concordia Chicago scored the next four runs plating two in the third and two in the fourth to retake the lead at 5-2. However, the Regents answered with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior shortstop Jossilyn Jones (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) struck first with a solo home run to center field to cut the lead to 5-3. Rockford added one more when senior first baseman Nicole Lawler (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) smacked a double off the top of the fence to score Segalla making the score 5-4.
After the Cougars extended their lead to 6-4 with a run in the top of the sixth, Rockford had a chance to cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning. With runners on second and third and two outs Jones stepped up the the plate with a chance to tie the game. However, the Cougars were able to induce a ground ball back to the pitcher to end the inning and the Regents rally. Concordia Chicago added 2 insurance runs in the seventh and held the Regents scoreless in the bottom half en route to an 8-4 victory.
Rockford got a strong pitching performance by sophomore Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth). Moritz allowed allowed just 4 earned runs while striking out 2 batters.
Game two turned out to be a difficult game for the Regents as Concordia Chicago pounded out 13 hits through the first three innings to take a early 9-0 lead. Rockford was able to answer with a run of its own in the bottom of the third inning. Second baseman Heidi Dockstader (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) ripped a two-out RBI double to right field to make it 9-1. Concordia Chicago put the game away one inning later when it put up nine runs in the top of the fourth and took game two by a final of 18-1.
Rockford returns to the diamond on Sunday when it travels to Benedictine University to take on the Eagles. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.
