ROCKFORD, Ill.- Sunday afternoon the Rockford University softball team hosted the Alverno College Inferno. The Inferno came in with a 8-8 conference record and a 19-15 overall record. Coming into the game, the Regents were still looking for their first conference win, and what better time would that come than on senior day. The Regents celebrated the careers of three Regents in-between games. Third baseman Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill.), utility player Whittney Weisensel (Rockford, Ill.), and pitcher and first baseman Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill.) were honored before the game. Moritz was the star in game one, pitching the entire game in the victory.
Alverno started the scoring early with two runs in the first inning. The Regents answered with one in the bottom half of the frame. Alexandra Storey (Dexter, Mich.) singled to start the inning and advanced to second on a throwing error on the play. A sacrifice bunt by Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Rockford, Ill.) advanced Storey to third and she was then driven in on a ground out by Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.).
The score held in Alverno's favor 2-1 until the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.) singled to left field. Moritz followed by reaching base via an error. Another error by the Inferno on a ground ball resulted in the game-tying run scoring. Sarah Rizzo (Monee, Ill.) made the errors hurt and finished off the rally with a two-run single up the middle.
Rockford added an insurance run in the fifth inning. Storey singled to start the inning and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Moritz threw up zeros the rest of the way to lead Rockford to the 5-2 win. She gave up the two runs on eight hits, no walks, and she struck out four batters.
Game two was close until the last couple of innings. Alverno scored again in the first inning to go ahead quickly 1-0. The Regents tied it up in the bottom of the fourth. Kenworthy drilled a one out triple to left field. Moritz followed by driving Kenworthy in with a ground out.
The following inning Rockford took the lead. Storey doubled with two outs and came around to score on a single by Lisa Blakeley-Snyder. The Regents held the 2-1 lead until the top of the sixth inning when Alverno scored two runs to take the lead. They then exploded for six more runs in the top of the seventh inning and held on to win 9-2.
The Regents season continues on April 22 when they travel to Mount Mary for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.
