MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Rockford University softball team returned to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play on Wednesday as the Regents hit the road to take on the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors. Unfortunately Rockford was unable to come away with a victory as the Warriors won both game by final scores of 6-2 and 7-1.
Despite being held to only two runs, the Regents played fairly well and had multiple scoring opportunities in the opener. Rockford's first real scoring threat came in the top of the third inning with game still scoreless. Outfielder Shannon LeGath (Sturtevant, Wis.) jump-started the inning with a one-out walk. Following a Wisconsin Lutheran error and a stolen base by Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.), the Regents had runners on second and third with only one out. However, the Warriors were able to retire the next two batters to end the Rockford threat. The game would take a turn for the worse in the bottom half of the inning when Wisconsin Lutheran scored three runs on four hits to take a 3-0 lead.
Rockford had similar scoring opportunities in both the fifth and sixth innings before finally breaking through in the seventh with a pair of runs. In the fifth the Regents had runners on first and second with one out following a double by Taylor Pilarczyk (Chicago, Ill.) and a Shannon LeGath walk. However, the Warriors were again able to wiggle out of the jam without allowing a run. In the sixth it was single by Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.) and Mercedes Boykin (Belvidere, Ill.) walk that put runners on first and second with one out. Unfortunately Rockford was once again unable to come up with big hit to drive in any runs. The seventh inning was a different story though as the Regents used four hits to score two runs. Shannon LeGath and Lynn Blakeley-Snyder were the center of the Rockford offense as they used back-to-back doubles to plate the Regents first run of the day. A couple of batters later, senior Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.) laced a single into left field as Rockford made it a 6-2 game with runners on first and third and only one out. However after a pitching change, Wisconsin Lutheran was able to retire the next two batters and take game one.
Junior Stefaney Kenworthy tossed her team-leading tenth complete game of the season. Kenworthy threw 6 innings allowing just 4 earned runs while striking out 2 and walking none.
The nightcap of the twinbill got off a great start for Rockford as the Regents were able to score first and take their first lead of the day. Senior Brittany Bura led off the second inning with a double to deep left field. One batter later, Stefaney Kenworthy singled into center scoring Bura to put her team out in front 1-0.
Rockford's lead did not last long as the Warriors used a pair of big innings to jump ahead 7-1. Wisconsin Lutheran scored three runs off three hits in the third inning and four runs off three hits in the sixth to take control of the game.
The Regents had one final chance in the seventh as Rockford put runners on first and third with only one out. Freshman Taylor Pilarczyk began the inning with a leadoff single into left field. Two batters later, Mercedes Boykin crushed a double into left field giving Rockford runners on second and third with one out. However, it was not meant to as Wisconsin Lutheran retired the next two batters to secure the 7-1 win.
The RU softball team returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 23 at home for senior day as the Regents will honor Brittany Bura and Mercedes Boykin after game one. First pitch of the doubleheader between Rockford and MSOE is set for noon at the Smith Athletic Field.
