SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - The Rockford University softball team was swept by the Lakeland College Muskies on Saturday afternoon. The Regents dropped the opener 9-1 in five innings before falling 10-8 to Lakeland in game two.
Game one was a bit of struggle for the Regents as they were nearly no-hit by the Muskies. After going the first four innings without a hit, Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill.) broke up Lakeland's bid at a no-hitter in the top of the fifth inning. Later in the inning, Rockford would take advantage of that hit as Whittney Weisensel (Rockford, Ill.) ended the shutout with an RBI lineout. Unfortunately Rockford could not get any closer as the Muskies cruised to a 9-1 win in five innings.
Game two went much better for Rockford as it was able to put pressure on Lakeland the entire game. After being one-hit in the opening game of the doubleheader, Rockford tallied 7 hits and 8 runs in the second game.
The Regents got the scoring started in the opening frame and grabbed a quick 1-0 lead. After a Muskie error gave Rockford a runner in scoring position with just one out, Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.) promptly gave her team the lead courtesy of an RBI groundout.
The lead would not last long though as the Muskies scored 5 runs over the next two innings. Lakeland scored 3 runs off 3 hits in the bottom of the first inning and then added 2 more runs off 2 hits and a costly Rockford error to grab the 5-1 advantage.
Rockford did answer back however in the top of the third with four runs to tie the game. The Regents quickly loaded the bases with no outs after a leadoff double by Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.), a Sarah Rizzo (Monee, Ill.) walk and an Alexandra Storey (Dexter, Mich.) single. The first two runs of the inning came from errors in the Lakeland outfield, before Rockford tied the game at 5-5 off a Sarah Moritz 2-run double.
However, the Muskies again had an answer as they retook the lead one inning later. Lakeland scored both of its runs off a two-out, two-run triple to jump back in front 7-5.
The game continued its back-and-forth nature as Rockford retook the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. Following an error to start the inning, Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) doubled to place two runners in scoring position with no outs. Two batters later Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill.) drove in the first run of the inning for Rockford while reaching base courtesy of a Muskie error. The Regents then strung together back-to-back singles from Sarah Moritz and Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) with the latter driving in a run to tie the game. Finally, Rockford took an 8-7 lead off an Ali Moore (Mascoutah, Ill.) sacrifice fly.
The lead did not last long though as the Muskies wasted little time retaking the lead. Lakeland scored 3 runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning off 4 hits to grab a 10-8 advantage. Unfortunately the Regents would be unable to score for the remainder of the game as the Muskies went on to sweep Rockford.
The Rockford University softball team returns to action on Sunday, April 19 at home against Alverno College. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon at the Smith Athletic Field.
