ROCKFORD, Ill.- Sunday afternoon the Rockford University softball team hosted a doubleheader against conference opponent Concordia University Chicago Cougars. The Cougars came into the series hot, with six straight conference wins and a 9-3 conference record. The Regents have struggled as of late playing complete games on offense and defense. Game one was close, until the Cougars exploded for seven runs in the last three innings of play. Game two was a similar game, and Concordia Chicago once again pulled away late in the game while the Regents offense struggled.
In game one the Cougars scored two in the bottom of the first. The Regents cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a lead off solo home run to left by Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill.). It was the first home run of the senior's career.
Concordia Chicago answered with three runs of its own in the top half of the third inning. Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill.) got one back for Rockford in the bottom half of the inning. She singled in Alexandra Storey (Dexter, Mich.), who started the inning by reaching base on an error. But the Regents could not hold back the Cougars offense and the Cougars scored seven runs over the next three innings.
Rockford scored its third run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill.) singled and advanced to second on an error to start the inning. She then advanced to third on a passed ball and later scored on a wild pitch. But it would not be enough as Rockford fell 12-3 in game one.
Game two was a similar game for the Regents. The Cougars scored two in the top of the first and three more in the top of the fourth. But this time, Rockford was not able to get on the scoreboard and stay in the game. Concordia Chicago scored three in the top of the seventh inning and shutout Rockford to put the final score for game two at 8-0.
Walker led the Regents with three hits on the day. Storey and Lynn Blakeley-Snyder both finished with two hits.
The Regents return to the field on Tuesday April 14 against Maranatha Baptist University. It is a doubleheader with the first game starting at 3:00 p.m.
