NAPLES, Fla.- The Rockford University softball team concluded their spring trip Friday against Drew University and Alfred State University. The Regents played well throughout the day and showed the potential they have moving forward in the season. Rockford took the first game in walk-off fashion against Drew University by the final of 3-2 and lost to Alfred State University by the of 12-7.
In game one Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.) threw a brilliant game against a team with a high-powered offense in Drew. The Rangers had six players hitting over .300 in their lineup and boasted a 5-3 record coming into the game versus the Regents. Kenworthy shut their offense down for the majority of the game before hitting a speed bump in the seventh inning, allowing two runs, but eventually got out of the jam and gave the offense a chance in the bottom of the seventh. She threw seven innings allowing two runs, one earned, eight hits and recorded two strikeouts completing her second game of the season. The defense behind her was outstanding throughout the game only committing one error on the game. Perhaps the most important out of the game came when Alex Storey (Dexter, Mich.) caught a fly ball and gunned the runner out attempting to tag on the play from third to extend the game to the home half of the seventh inning.
Offensively, Rockford was attacking the pitcher early in counts to attempt to score as quick as possible. The Regents did not have any runs to show for their aggressive mentality until the third inning when Makayla Long (Wilmington, Ill.) scored from third base on a wild pitch to give the team its' first lead 1-0. In the fifth inning again Long scored on another wild pitch to tack on another run and extend the lead to 2-0. After Rockford allowed two runs in the top of the seventh Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.) began the inning off with a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) and Abigail Wellwood (Rockford, Ill.) both walked to load the bases after an out was recorded and then Long came in and smacked a single back up the middle to score Bura and give the Regents a walk-off victory and their first victory of the season by the final of 3-2.
In game two Bura started the game pitching for Rockford and did a tremendous job through four innings giving up zero runs. In the fifth inning Alfred State began to hit the ball into the gaps and find the holes in the defense which made Bura be removed from the game after the sixth inning. She threw six innings allowing eight runs, six earned, and recording three strikeouts. unfortunately, the Regent pitchers could not slow down the Pioneer hitters in the final two innings.
Offensively, Rockford jumped to the lead in the first with an RBI single from Bura to score Storey and lead 1-0. Neither team would score until the fifth inning when Alfred State took a 4-1 lead, however, the Regents immediately responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a Wellwood single that scored Caitlin Eiben (Racine, Wis.) to decrease the deficit to 4-2. The Pioneers scored two in the sixth inning to lead 6-2. Rockford quickly responded in a huge way with Bura hitting an RBI double to score Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.). Kenworthy walked which brought up Lynn Blakeley-Snyder who hit an RBI fielder's choice to decrease the deficit to 6-4 with one out in the inning. Mercedes Boykin (Belvidere, Ill.) walked with the bases-loaded to again trim the deficit down to 6-5. Long came up and hit a clutch two RBI single to center field to plate Wellwood and Blakeley-Snyder and give the Regents a 7-6 lead going into the seventh inning. Unfortunately, Rockford could not finish the game and gave up six runs and ultimately fell by the final of 12-7.
Playing well for Rockford was Long going 3-for-5 with three RBI's, two walks, the game-winning RBI and the go-ahead hit in the second game. Lisa Blakeley-Snyder went 3-for-7 with a walk. Bura went 4-for-7 with two RBI's. Wellwood went 3-for-5 with an RBI single. Storey collected two hits as well for the Regents.
The Rockford University softball team will return to action March 23 to take on Eureka College in Eureka, Ill. with a scheduled start time of 3 p.m.
