ROCKFORD, Ill.- It has been a tough go of things as of late for the Rockford University softball team. But a doubleheader against a former conference opponent might be just what the Regents need to spark a late season surge. Rockford pounded out 25 hits and scored 24 runs in the two games enroute to a sweep. The Regents used a six-run first inning in the first game and a five-run second inning in the second game to power their way past the Sabercats.
Alexandra Storey (Dexter, Mich.) started the Regent offensive attack with a single. She later advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a single by Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.). Maranada Walker (Rockford, Ill.) struck the first blow by scoring Storey on a RBI bunt. After a flyout a Sabercat error extended the inning for Rockford. Mercedes Boykin (Belvidere, Ill.) made the error hurt by clearing the bases with a triple.
Ali Moore (Mascoutah, Ill.) added to the damage with a run scoring double. One more error in the inning by Maranatha allowed Moore to score to extend Rockford's first inning lead to 6-0. All was quiet until the fourth inning when Rockford put the game out of reach with five more runs.
Whittney Weisensel (Rockford, Ill.) doubled to start the inning. One out later Abigail Wellwood (Rockford, Ill.) singled to put runners at the corners. A double by Sarah Moritz(Heyworth, Ill.) scored both runners.
After the second out of the inning was recorded, Moore came up clutch and drove in Moritz with a single up the middle. She advanced to second on a fielding error, which allowed her to score after the next batter, Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill.) also singled up the middle. The scoring was not over. Lynn Blakeley-Snyder went to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a single by Storey to put Rockford up 11-0.
Moritz started the game on the mound for Rockford and did her job, throwing four shutout innings to record her first win of the season. She allowed just three hits and no walks while striking out three batters. Storey went 3-for-3 in the game with a run and a walk. The bottom of the order for Rockford produced, with the six through nine hitters combining to go 6-for-11 with six runs and eight RBI.
Game two was a slower start for the Regents. Maranatha started out strong and got out to an early 4-0 lead, but Rockford responded with five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. Sarah Rizzo (Monee, Ill.) started the rally with a lead-off single. Maranatha retired the next two batters before mistakes allowed Rockford to score five unearned runs.
Wellwood reached on an error and Boykins walked to load the bases. A passed ball allowed the first run of the game for Rockford to score. Lynn Blakeley-Snyder walked to again load the bases with two outs. Storey made the errors to continue the inning hurt by clearing the bases with a double to center field. Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill.) kept the rally going with a RBI single to the shortstop. The Regents scored five runs in the inning to go ahead 5-4.
Rockford went on to score three runs in the third, two in the fourth, and three more in the fifth, while only giving up one more run the rest of the way to pull ahead of Maranatha 13-5. Wellwood singled up with two outs in the fifth inning to enforce the eight run rule and end the game early. The damage was more spread around in game two. Rizzo led the way by going 3-for-3 with three runs, a RBI, and a walk.
Also with three hits was Lisa Blakeley-Snyder who went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Storey went 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI. Rounding out the damage was Boykin who went 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI. On the mound Wellwood picked up the first win of her Regent career by pitching four innings of relief. She gave up three earned runs on seven hits and one walk.
Rockford continues its season on the road with a doubleheader starting at noon against Lakeland on April 18.
