SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - The Regents concluded the Northern Athletics Conference portion of their schedule on Wednesday when they hit the road to play the Lakeland College Muskies. Rockford has been playing some of its best softball over the past week and now has not lost a series in its last six doubleheaders. Following a difficult 6-0 loss in the opening game, the Regents rebounded with an impressive 11-8 win in game two against the Muskies.
The Regents really struggled to get anything going in the opener. Lakeland was able to score six runs in the first three innings and jump out to an early 6-0 lead. The Rockford offense was only able to muster two hits during game one, but did have a good opportunity to cut into the Muskie lead in the top of the fourth inning. Jossilyn Jones (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) began the inning with the team's first hit of the game when she singled into center field. Heidi Dockstader (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) then tried to lay down a bunt to move Jones over to second, but instead reached on an error giving Rockford runners on first and second with no outs. However, the ladies were unable to capitalize as Lakeland recorded three straight outs and went on to win 6-0.
The Regents bats woke up for the second game scoring in all but two innings. Rockford grabbed its first lead of the day when it scored a pair of runs in the top of the first innings. Heidi Dockstader got the offense rolling when she crushed a one-out double into left center field. Two batters later senior Nicole Lawler (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) smashed her fourth home run of the season this one putting her team on top 2-0 after a half an inning of play. The lead did not last long though as Lakeland answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first to knot the game at 2-2. The Regents answered right back scoring 4 runs in the top of the second off two hits and took advantage of 3 Muskie errors. Following a hit batter and two Lakeland errors, Jossilyn Jones ripped a single through the left side of the infield for her first RBI of the afternoon. A few batters later Jessica Segalla (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) extended the Regents lead with a 2-run single to make it 6-2 heading into the bottom of the second inning. However, the Muskies continued to fight and battled back scoring the next four runs and to once again tie the game, this time at 6-6 heading into the top of the fifth inning. However, Rockford scored the next 5 runs to seize control of the game. Following a double by Nicole Lawler and a sacrifice bunt, senior Alexis Ford (Cortland, Ill./DeKalb) drove in her first run of the day on an RBI groundout to give Rockford a 7-6 advantage. Jessica Segalla added to the lead one inning later when she belted her first home run of the season to make it an 8-6 Rockford lead going into the seventh inning. The Regents added three insurance runs in the top of the final frame to seal the victory. After a Ford walk and a Sara Smoode (Spring Valley, Ill./Hail) single, sophomore Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) scorched a 2-run triple down the left field line. A couple of batters later Jones knocked in Walker with her second hit of the game to cap Rockford's 11-8 victory.
The softball team concludes its season on Wednesday, May 1st with a road trip to Milwaukee to play Mt. Mary College. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 PM.
