ROSCOE, Ill.- The Rockford University softball team returned to action today to take on Mount Mary University in a non-conference doubleheader. The Regents were seeking their third and fourth wins on the season. Rockford dropped the first game by the final of 12-4 and won the second by the final of 7-6.
In the first game the Regents fell behind by three runs in the first two innings. Rockford was able to respond in the bottom of the second inning when Nicole McCabe (Brookfield, Ill.) hit an RBI single to right field to drive in Caitlin Eiben (Racine, Wis.) from third base. The run narrowed the Rockford deficit to 3-1. Later in the inning, Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.) roped a two-run single to center field to bring in McCabe and Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.). The clutch hit tied the game up at 3-3 heading into the third inning.
After a costly Rockford error, Mount Mary added three runs in the fourth inning to take a 6-3 lead. The Regents responded with their own run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The run came when Brittany Bihun (Schaumburg, Ill.) smoked an RBI double to right-center field to drive in Kenworthy from first base narrowing the deficit to 6-4. Unfortunately, the Blue Angels tacked on six more runs to prevail by the final of 12-4.
Brooke Burris (Galatia, Ill.) was on the bump in game one for the Regents. Burris threw a complete game allowing 12 runs, but only 6 were earned.
In game two, Mount Mary again jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Rockford was able to respond with a run of their own in the home half of the inning. The run came when Burris hit an RBI single to left field to drive in Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) from second base narrowing the deficit to 3-1.
After the Blue Angels tacked on three runs to expand their lead to 6-1. In the third inning the Regents added a run off of a blast over the left-center field fence from Kenworthy to narrow the deficit to 6-2. The Regents tacked on another run in the fifth inning when Lisa Blakeley-Snyder smashed a home run over the left-center field fence to narrow the deficit to 6-3. Unfortunately, Rockford could not add any more runs stranding runners on second and third with nobody out.
As the score remained 6-3 until the seventh inning when the Regents put together a furious rally. Eiben drove an RBI double to left-center field to drive in Bihun making the score 6-4. Next up was Taylor Pilarczyk (Chicago, Ill.) hit an RBI single to plate Burris. Following Pilarczyk was Lynn Blakeley-Snyder who hit an RBI single to drive in Eiben. With the score all tied at 6-6, Abigail Wellwood (Rockford, Ill.) provided the game-winning RBI with a hard groundout which the pitcher fumbled allowing Pilarczyk to score from third base. The Regents scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win by the final of 7-6.
Starting the game on the bump was Abigail Wellwood. After three innings she gave way to Stefaney Kenworthy. Kenworthy was outstanding throwing the final 4 innings allowing 0 runs on 3 hits and striking out 2. She earned her second victory of the season with the effort.
Leading the Regents offensively for the day were Kenworthy going 4-for-7 with a home run, a two-run single and two runs scored. Lisa Blakeley-Snyder went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and two walks. Brooke Burris went 5-for-8 with an RBI and a run scored. Brittany Bihun collected four hits.
RU will return to action Wednesday, March 29 to take on Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. with a scheduled start time of 3 p.m.
