ROCKFORD, Ill.- Tuesday afternoon featured a home doubleheader for the Rockford University softball team. The Regents opponent was the Mount Mary Blue Angels. Rockford received great pitching in both games and it scored a combined 13 runs in the two games. They won game one 8-0 thanks to a big five run fourth inning. Things were a bit closer in game two, with Rockford holding onto a small lead all game and holding off Mount Mary for the 5-3 victory.
In game one Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) set the tone for the Regents on the mound. She did not allow a hit until a two out double in the top of the fourth inning. Only two other Blue Angels reached base against Mortiz; one coming on a walk and the other base runner on a Regent error. Mortiz finished the game giving up one hit, one walk, no runs, and struck out three batters. This was Mortiz's third win on the season and her first shut-out.
Rockford got on the board early with two first inning runs. Mercedes Boykin (Belvidere, Ill./North) led off the game with a walk. One batter later Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind./Fountain Central) singled Boykin to second. Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) then doubled in both runners for the first runs of the game. Boykin started another rally in the third inning with a lead-off single. Megan Dougherty (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) singled after Boykin, who then advanced to third on Kenworthy's fielder's choice. Boykin took home after the Blue Angels threw down to second on Kenworthy's stolen base attempt.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Rockford put the game out of reach. Moritz started the inning with a single to left field. Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) followed with a walk. Mount Mary then committed a throwing error which scored Moritz. A pop up and a wild pitch resulted in two Regent runners in scoring position with one out. Rockford scored another run thanks to a sacrifice fly by Boykin. Dougherty then walked and Kenworthy singled to load the bases. Bura walked in a run for her third RBI of the game. Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda) followed Bura with another RBI walk. Moritz finished the scoring for Rockford by reaching first base on a Mount Mary error. She then finished the game in the top of the fifth inning retiring the Blue Angel's in order.
Game two was a tighter game for Rockford. Once again they scored right away and once again it was the Regents lead-off hitter, Boykin, starting things. She reached on a Mount Mary error, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a single by Dougherty. After another wild pitch Boykin scored with Dougherty moving to second base. Kenworthy drove in Dougherty a couple of pitches later for the second run of the inning. Rockford tacked on a third run in the bottom of the second inning. Whittney Weisensel (Rockford, Ill./Jefferson) started the inning with a double and moved to third on a single by Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago). After a bunt single Boykin hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Weisensel.
That would be all the scoring for Rockford until the bottom of the sixth inning when they extended their lead to five. Blakeley-Snyder began the inning driving the ball way over the right fielders head but was tagged out trying for an inside-the-park home run. After a ground-out, Boykin doubled down the left field line. Dougherty reached on an error and then stole second base. Kenworthy followed that up with a two-run single to center field.
Bura started on the mound for Rockford and threw four shut-out innings before coming out of the game. She allowed three hits, one walk, and struck out three batters to record her first win of the season. The only trouble she found herself in was in the first inning after allowing a one out double and a single after that, putting runners on first and third. But Walker snagged a liner at third and Bura struck out the next batter to end the Blue Angels threat.
Kenworthy took over for Bura in the fifth inning and found herself in trouble in the sixth. She allowed two straight singles and then a walk to start the inning. After a mound visit, Kenworthy took the game into her own hands and struck out three straight batters to end the base-loaded threat. She found herself in more trouble in the top of the seventh inning. The first batter lined out to second but the second batter reached on a Regent error. After a fielder's choice, Rockford made another error to extend the inning and put runners on second and third. The next batter for Mount Mary made the errors hurt by knocking in both runners with a single to center field. Kenworthy then settled down to get a ground out to second to end the game 5-2 in favor of Rockford.
Rockford returns to its home field for a doubleheader against conference opponent MSOE on April 9th. The game is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m.
