CAPE CORAL, Fla. - The Regents softball team returned to the field for a pair of games on Thursday afternoon after yesterday's off day. Rockford opened the day against Drew University (5-1) and finished with a matchup versus SUNY Oneonta (3-2). The ladies played a phenomenal opening game defeating Drew 5-3 but were unable to complete the sweep falling 10-0 to Oneonta St.
In the opening game the Regents fell behind 3-0 through three frames before the Rockford bats awoke in the fourth to take the lead. Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) got the inning started on the right track with a leadoff single. Two batters later, Marah Erbe (Stillman Valley, Ill./Stillman Valley) kept the inning alive ripping a single to second base placing runners on the corners with two outs. Junior Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill./Boylin) then got the Regents on the board with an RBI single to left. Mercedes Boykin (Belvidere, Ill./North) continued the trend with Rockford's third straight 2-out single to load the bases. After a Ranger error allowed a run to score making it a 3-2 game, the Regents came up with their biggest hit so far this season. Junior Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) crushed a bases clearing 3-run double to wall in left center putting her team on top 5-3.
Moritz would need no more run support as she shut down Drew for the remainder of the game. She tossed her second consecutive complete game allowing just 2 earned runs while striking out 4. After giving up 2 runs in the third inning, Moritz locked in on the mound and was really only in trouble one other time for the remainder of the game. In the sixth inning Drew had a runner on third with one out when the Rangers attempted to tag on a fly ball to left field; however, Stephanie Bolger (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) caught the ball and then proceeded to fire a laser to the plate to Ali Moore (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) who applied the tag completing the double play and ending the inning. Mortiz would then go on to finish off the Rangers in the bottom of the seventh and secure the victory to even her record to 2-2 on the season.
Despite the thrilling win over Drew, the Regents were just unable to get anything going in the game two against SUNY Oneonta. Rockford had multiple scoring opportunities but were just could not cash any of them in stranding 10 runners in just 5 innings including leaving the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings. The Regents best scoring opportunity came in the fourth inning when Rockford had runners on second and third with just one out. However, the big hit continued to elude the Regents as they were unable to drive any runs in and ultimately fell by a 10-0 final.
Even though the Regents were shutout, Rockford still had a trio of players record multi-hit games. Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Mundelein) continued her torrid hitting so far this season going 3-for-3 and raising her season average to .591. Maranda Walker was also perfect at the plate against Oneonta St. going 2-for-2 with a double. Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind./Fountain Central) was the final Regent to record at least two hits as she was 2-for-3 and raised her season average to a sizzling .417.
The Regents wrap up their spring trip tomorrow against Franklin & Marshal and Stevens Institute beginning at 9 a.m.
