CAPE CORAL, Fla. - After yesterday's offensive explosion that saw the Regents score 18 runs in two games, the Rockford University softball team saw its bats go silent on Tuesday. Rockford opened Tuesday's slate of games falling 6-0 to St. Mary's College and then dropped its second game to the University of Minnesota-Morris by a 2-1 final.
In the opener the Rockford offense was unable to threaten the St. Mary's College Belles pitching. Rockford was held without a hit until the 6th inning when Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind./Fountain Central) broke up the no-hitter with a single to left field. That turned out to be Rockford's only hit of the game as they fell by a final of 6-0.
Kenworthy also pitched well in her two innings of relief against the Belles. The freshman tossed a pair of shutout innings surrendering no hits and striking out one.
The second game against Minnesota-Morris followed a similar pattern as game one with Rockford struggling to score runs. The Regents best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth inning when they were trailing 2-0. Stefaney Kenworthy again got things started with a leadoff to center field. Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) followed with a hard hit ball that got past the Cougars' second baseman to put runners on second and third with no outs. Two batters later, pinch hitter Whittney Weisensel (Rockford, Ill./Jefferson) drove the second pitch she saw deep into left field for an RBI sacrifice fly making it a 2-1 game. However, the rally would end there as the Cougars retired the next batter to end the threat and secure a 2-1 win.
Sophomore Brittany Bura pitched excellent and had the Cougars tamed for the majority of the game. After surrendering 2 runs and 2 hits in the first inning, the sophomore did not give up anything the remainder of the way. Bura tossed her first complete game of the season giving up just 2 runs on 2 hits while striking out one.
The Rockford University softball team is off tomorrow but will return to the diamond on Thursday. The Regents will play games against Drew and SUNY Oneonta beginning at 12:00 p.m. in Cape Coral, Fla.
