MEQUON, Wis. - It was another rough day offensively for the Regents as they fell to Concordia University Wisconsin 10-1 and 14-0.
Rockford opened game one with an opportunity to take an early lead when senior shortstop Jossilyn Jones (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) led off the game with a single through the left side. After a sacrifice bunt moved Jones to second base with just one out, Rockford had the middle of its order coming up with an opportunity to drive in Jones. However, the Falcons were able to record back-to-back strikeouts to put an end to the Regent threat.
Concordia Wisconsin wasted little time breaking the scoreless tie as it used three doubles in the bottom of the first to get on the board early and jump out to a quick 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the second inning it was the Rockford defense which aided the Falcon offense. With two runners on and one out the Falcons loaded the bases on a dropped pop up in the infield. Despite the error it seemed the Regents might get out the jam when sophomore pitcher Sarah Moritz, (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) was able to induce a foul out to the catcher for the second out of the inning. However, it was the Falcons cleanup who made Rockford pay when she crushed a full count pitch over the fence for a grand slam and a 7-0 lead.
Rockford got a run in the fourth inning to cut into the Falcon lead. Sophomore catcher Jessica Segalla (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) got the inning started with a double into right center field. Following two quick outs, it was junior outfielder Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Mundelein) who delivered a two-out RBI single to score Segalla and make it 9-1. However the Regents would not get any closer as the Falcons tacked on another run in the fourth inning and won by a final of 10-1.
Game two followed a similar format for the Regents as game one. Concordia Wisconsin jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after the first inning thanks in part to four Falcon hits and two Regent errors. The Falcons added four more runs in the bottom of the second off of four hits including a two-run homerun to take an 8-0 lead.
Rockford's best chance to score came in the third inning as sophomore third baseman Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) led off the inning with an infield single to the shortstop. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to second base and put her in scoring position for the top of the Rockford order, the Falcons got out of the jam with a fly out and strike out to end the inning. Concordia Wisconsin tacked on three more runs in the third and fourth innings to win game two 14-0.
The Regents softball team will be back in action on Wednesday when the ladies welcome the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders to the Ernst E. Smith Athletic Field on the campus of Rockford College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.
