FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University softball team dropped its season opener 10-2 on Sunday to Albion College. The Regents struggled early on committing seven errors in the first four innings allowing Albion to jump out to an 8-0 lead. However despite the early woes, the ladies continued to fight scoring the next two runs making it an 8-2 game.

Rockford strung together a trio of hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to score their first run of the game. Abigail Wellwood (Rockford, Ill.) and Taylor Pilarczyk (Chicago, Ill.) recorded back-to-back hits giving Rockford its best scoring chance of the day with runners on first and second and just one out. Two batters later, Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) came through with a clutch RBI single into left field scoring Wellwood to make it an 8-1 game. 

The Regents added another run in the top of the sixth as they continued to cut into the Britons' lead. Senior Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.) began the inning with walk as the Regents put their leadoff hitter on base for the third time in the game. A couple of batters later, Brittany Bihun (Schaumburg, Ill.) singled back up the middle giving Rockford runners on first and second with just one out. Following a wild pitch, Nicole McCabe (Brookfield, Ill.) drove in her first run of the season as the Regents pulled back to within six at 8-2. Unfortunately that was as close as Rockford would get, as Albion answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 10-2 victory.

Pitcher Stefaney Kenworthy pitched much better than what the final score might indicate. Kenworthy tossed the entire game allowing just two earned runs while striking out two.

Offensively the Regents were led by Lisa Blakeley-Snyder and Stefaney Kenworthy. Blakeley-Snyder went 1-2 with an RBI and a walk, while Kenworthy also went 1-2 with a walk and a run scored. 

The Regents return to the field at 5 PM Eastern Time to take on Swarthmore College.