APPLETON, Wis.- The Rockford University softball team traveled to Wisconsin Sunday afternoon to face the Lawrence University Vikings. It would be a tough task for Rockford. Lawrence came in with an outstanding 24-10 record and recently clinched their side of their conference. Rockford held a three run lead midway through game one, but a big inning for Lawrence determined the game. Another big inning by Lawrence in game two resulted in a two game sweep for the Vikings.
Rockford put up a three spot in the fourth inning in game one to score the first runs of the game. Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.) singled to start the inning. The next batter, Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill.) followed with a double. A third straight hit, this time by Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.), resulted in the first run of the game. Kenworthy was caught stealing shortly after, but Sarah Moritz (Heyworth, Ill.) walked to keep the rally going. Ali Moore (Mascoutah, Ill.) doubled in another run with Moritz advancing to third on the play. After a strike out, a Viking error resulted in the third run of the inning scoring.
The Vikings struck back in the bottom of the fifth inning. They doubled to start the inning. After a pop out, they scored their first run of the game on a single to right center. Another pop out kept a runner on base with two outs and it looked like the damage would be limited. But the Vikings bats exploded with a triple, single, and double to score three runs and go ahead 4-3. Another single up the middle looked like it would result in another run for the Vikings, but center fielder Alexandra Storey (Dexter, Mich.) threw out the runner at home.
The score held there for the rest of the game and Rockford fell 4-3. Bura and Walker both finished with two hits. Moore had one of the better games of her season by going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI. Moritz was again the tough-luck loser. She pitched six strong innings giving up eight hits, four earned runs, no walks, and she struck out three batters in the losing effort.
Rockford found themselves down early in game two. Lawrence scored a quick run in the bottom of the first inning off of starting pitcher Bura. A two out single plated the run. Lawrence again scored with two outs in the inning, this time with a run scoring single in the bottom of the third inning.
The Regents cut the Vikings lead in half in the top of the fourth inning. Lisa Blakeley-Snyder(Rockford, Ill.) doubled to start the inning. A ground out advanced her to third and Walker singled to score her. Lawrence responded in a big way in the bottom half of the frame. The Vikings scored seven runs in the inning to go ahead 9-1. They then shut out Rockford in the top of the fifth inning to invoke the eight run rule and end the game.
