ROCKFORD, ILL.- The Rockford University softball team has had some late inning drama recently, with comeback wins against MSOE and Concordia Wisconsin in the last four days. It seems as though the team thrives in close late inning situations and finds ways to rally from behind. Wednesday afternoon added two more comeback wins to Rockford's season total with two one run wins, including another walk-off in game one.
Game one appeared as though it would be an easy win for Edgewood as the Eagles pitcher cruised through the Regents lineup for most of the game. Rockford did threaten in the bottom of the second and had two runners on base but hit into an inning ending double-play. In the fifth the Regents loaded the bases with three batters reaching base with one out. Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago) and Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) singled and Megan Dougherty (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) walked. Rockford could not drive in the run with the next two batters getting retired on a strike out and pop out.
Edgewood, on the other hand, strung together some hits in the fourth inning to take a four run lead. They tacked on another run in the top of the sixth to push their lead to five runs. Things did not look good for the Regents heading into their final at bats but the never die attitude shown the past week was once again on display in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Lynn Blakeley-Snyder led off the inning with a single. Walker was up next and she also singled. Dougherty followed by beating out an infield single to third base to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Ali Moore (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) hit another infield single to drive in Rockford's first run of the game. Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago) kept things going with another RBI single. Not to be out done, Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind./Fountain Central) lined a single up the middle for two more runs. Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill./Trinity) was up next and she laid down a clutch bunt with two strikes, surprising the Eagles defense who threw the ball away resulting in Lisa Blakeley-Snyder scoring the game tying run on the play.
Six straight hits, seven consecutive runners reached base, and five runs scored; in a matter of minutes Rockford had the game winning run in scoring position. Edgewood struck out the next batter to regain some moment but then Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) drew a walk to load the bases to put even more pressure on the Eagles. Lynn Blakeley-Snyder started the rally with a single and she ended the game by drawing a walk to force in Kenworthy for the game winning run. Moritz went the whole game to earn her five win on the season and her ninth complete game.
Game two was just about as exciting as game one. Edgewood scored a run off the Regents starting pitcher Bura in the first inning. Rockford tied it up in the bottom of the inning. Walks to Bura, Jessica Bjerning (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda), and Lynn Blakeley-Snyder loaded the bases with one out. Walker reached on a force out at third base, scoring Bura. In the third Rockford scored again with Kenworthy coming around on a single by Bjerning.
Edgewood tied it up the fourth but Rockford answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead. Dougherty hit a two out double to score Walker. The back-and-forth game continued as Edgewood scored two runs with two outs in the top of the fifth to go ahead by a run. Rockford did not wait until their last outs of the game to rally this time.
In the bottom of the sixth Walker singled with one out and after a foul out Dougherty also singled. Both runners advanced an extra base on a throwing error on the play to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Continuing to show how clutch she is, Lisa Blakeley-Snyder ripped a two-run single to center to put Rockford up 5-4 heading into the final inning.
Kenworthy, who came in for Bura in the top of the sixth, made things interesting in the seventh inning. Edgewood singled to start the inning. The next batter grounded into a force out at second base for the first out of the inning. Another single put runners on first and second. Bjerning snagged a liner on the next batter and almost turned a double-play to end the game. On the next batter Walker grabbed a grounder and touched third base to secure the sweep for the Regents. Kenworthy went two innings to record the first win of her college career.
Rockford looks to stay hot when they host Dominican University on April 12th at 12:00 p.m.
