CAPE CORAL, Fla. - The Rockford University softball team opened its 2014 campaign by splitting its two games on Sunday. The Regents began with a 7-5 win over Nazareth College before dropping their second game 5-0 to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). 

The first game was shaping up to be a pitchers' duel before both offenses exploded in the seventh inning. Rockford struck first scoring a single run in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Ali Moore (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) got the offense starting ripping a one-out single into center field. Following a passed ball, a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Moore would come around to score on a throwing error by the catcher to give Rockford a 1-0 lead.

Rockford would make it a 3-0 game a few innings later by once again taking advantage of its opponent's miscues. After a walk and a single by Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill./Trinity), Rockford had runners on second and third with just one out. Mercedes Boykin (Belvidere, Ill./North) would score the first run of the inning on a fielder's choice thanks in large part to her magnificent slide at the plate allowing her to avoid the tag. Bura then scored the final run of the inning when the Nazareth catcher once again threw the ball into left field putting Rockford up 3-0. 

The game would remain 3-0 until the Regents added four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Rockford began by loading the bases off a pair of walks and single to bring up Megan Dougherty (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) who delivered a one-out single down the left field line to drive in the first run of the inning. The Regents then scored their next two runs off multiple wild pitches and a walk before Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) plated the final run of the inning on a RBI groundout to second base making it 7-0 game. It turned out Rockford would need nearly all those runs as the Golden Flyers mounted a rally in the bottom half of the inning. Nazareth recorded 7 of its 11 hits in the final frame scoring 5 runs and had runners on second and third with just one out. However, Brittany Bura was able to get the next two batters out to pick up the save and secure the win.

Rockford pitcher Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) threw well in her first outting of the season. Moritz had the Golden Flyers off balance for most of the afternoon surrendering no runs and just 4 hits through 6 innings. Despite a bit of bumpy seventh inning Moritz was still able to pick up her first win of the year and improve to 1-0 on the mound.

Rockford's second game of the day was much different than the first as the Regents fell 5-0 to MCLA. The Regents were simply not able to get anything going against the MCLA all-conference and rookie of the year pitcher Rachel Quackenbush. Quackenbush shut out the Regents and showed why she is averaging over 15 strikeouts a game so far this season. Rockford did not help itself out either committing four errors which led to four unearned runs. 

The Regents however did outhit the Trailblazers 4-2. Megan Dougherty accounted for half of Rockford's hits with a 2-3 performance at the plate. On the mound it was Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind./Fountain Central) who turned in a brilliant performance for the Regents. Kenworthy tossed a pair of innings and surrendered no hits or walks while striking out 3. 

Rockford returns to the field on Monday, March 10th against North Park at 12 p.m. and Eastern Nazarene at 2 p.m.