ROSCOE, Ill.-The Rockford University softball team returned to action Sunday to open up Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play with a doubleheader against Marian University. The Regents were hoping to turn their season around with a strong start to conference play, unfortunately they dropped both games by the finals of 13-1 and 12-4.
In game one, Rockford started the game with Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.)on the mound. Bura struggled in the game as the high-powered Marian offense tallied 13 runs on 14 hits. Following Bura was Abigail Wellwood (Rockford, Ill.) who allowed zero earned runs on two hits in her 1 2/3 innings of work.
Offensively, Rockford was only able to muster two hits and one run in the contest. The lone run the Regents scored in the game came when Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.)hit a monstrous home run over the left-center field fence for her first of the season. Rockford ultimately fell by the final of 13-1 in the first game.
In game two, taking the mound for the Regents was Kenworthy who struggled to get the Sabres' hitters out as they continued to hit the ball well tallying 18 hits and 12 runs.
Offensively, the Regents hit the ball with much more authority and created many scoring opportunities throughout the contest which led to 4 runs on 9 hits. The scoring began in the second inning when Mercedes Boykin (Belvidere, Ill.) hit an RBI single to score Alex Storey (Dexter, Mich.) from second base. Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.)hit a drive over the center field fence for a two-run home run to give Rockford a 3-2 lead after two innings. The home run was her first of the season. Unfortunately, the lead was short lived as Marian scored three runs in the third inning to take the lead, which they never surrendered the rest of the game. After the Sabres had tacked seven runs onto their lead, the Regents responded with their final run of the game when Makayla Long (Wilmington, Ill.) hit an RBI single to bring Shannon LeGath (Sturtevant, Wis.)around to score. Ultimately, Rockford could not bring any other runners around to score and fell by the final of 12-4.
Playing well offensively were Lynn Blakeley-Snyder who went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI's. Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.)had a phenomenal second game recording 3 hits in the game. Long collected 2 hits and an RBI in the second game. Kenworthy got on base in both plate appearances going 1-for-1 with a solo home run and was hit by a pitch in her second plate appearance.
The Rockford University softball team will return to action Monday, April 4 to make up the game from Saturday's rainout at Wisconsin Lutheran College with a scheduled start time of 3 p.m.
