MEQUON, Wis. - The Rockford University softball team concluded a very difficult opening week of the season on Sunday on the road against Concordia University Wisconsin. The Regents opened Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play by facing each of the top 3 teams in the conference. Rockford hosted preseason favorite Aurora University, traveled to preseason runner-up Benedictine and squared off with the 5-1 Falcons on Sunday. However, the ladies were up to the test on Sunday as they came up with multiple clutch hits knock off Concordia Wisconsin 7-6 in game one before falling 6-0 in game two.
Rockford opened the day firing on all cylinders as it jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Freshman Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind./Fountain Central) started Rockford's 2-out rally with a single into left field. One batter later, Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) laced a double into left center to place runners on second and third with two outs. Senior Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Mundelein) then calmly stepped to the plate and ripped a 2-run double down the right field line giving the Regents a quick 2-0 lead.
Despite scoring first, Rockford was unable to hold its lead as the Falcons struck back a few innings later. Concordia Wisconsin would score two runs of its own in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 2-2. The Falcons then grabbed their first lead of the day scoring two more runs in the bottom of the fifth taking a 4-2 lead.
However, the Regents would not be denied as they continued to fight and claw their way back and eventually tie the game. It was once again Stefaney Kenworthy who jump-started the offense this time with a leadoff double in the top of the sixth inning. After a passed ball moved Kenworthy to third, Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) drove her in on an RBI fielder's choice to cut the Falcon lead down to just one run heading into the final regulation frame. In the seventh it was Megan Dougherty (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) who crushed a double into right center to put the tying run into scoring position. Freshman Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago) then delivered the first of her two big hits on the afternoon with an RBI single to left center tying the game at 4-4. One batter later, Rockford had a chance to take the lead when Kenworthy hit her second double of the day, but the Regents were cut down at the plate to end the inning.
The eighth inning turned out to be filled with both jubilation and heartbreak as each team scored a pair of runs. Following two quick outs and a hit batsman, freshman Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago) hit Rockford's first home run of the season and put her team up 6-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Regents then also retired the first two batters in the bottom half of the inning before committing an error that allowed the inning to continue. One batter later the Falcons tied the game with a 2-run home run of their own.
After a scoreless ninth and tenth inning, the Regents once again regained the lead in the eleventh. Junior Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) began the inning with Rockford's sixth double of the afternoon. A few batters later, Lisa Blakeley-Snyder once again came through in the clutch, this time with an RBI double putting the Regents back on top 7-6 heading into the bottom of the eleventh. The Falcons appeared as though they would answer back with a run of their own, but the Regents turned a spectacular game-ending double play to seal the win.
In the circle it was Brittany Bura who turned in the longest outing of any Regent so far this season. Bura tossed 10 innings surrendering just 4 earned runs while striking out 5 to earn the win. Kenworthy came in and pitched a scoreless 11th to collect her second save this season.
Following the thrilling victory in game one, Rockford struggled to generate much offense in game two. The Regents were held to just two hits and were shutout 6-0. Lisa Blakeley-Snyder and Jessica Bjerning recorded one hit each with Bjerning collecting her fourth double of the year.
Sarah Moritz pitched very well in defeat. The junior tossed her eighth complete game of the season surrendering just one earned run off six hits while striking out four batters.
The Regents softball team returns to the diamond on Wednesday, April 9th at home against Edgewood College. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m.
