ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team dropped both its games, 12-5 and 8-0, to the Dominican University Stars on Saturday evening. After falling behind 6-0 early in the opener, Rockford scored five unanswered runs to pull back within one, only to see the Stars score the next six to seal the win. Game two was more of a struggle as Rockford was shutout in five innings.
Game one was a roller coaster ride for the Regents filled with numerous ups and downs. Rockford got off to a slow start falling behind 6-0 after four innings of play. However, the Regents continued to fight and claw their way back into the game with a five-run top of the fifth. Following a leadoff walk, senior Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.) drove in Rockford's first run of the day with a double to left center field making it a 6-1 game. The Stars would again help out the Regents with another walk and a hit batsman to load the bases with only one away. Brooke Burris (Galatia, Ill.) then made it a 6-2 game with an RBI single down the left field line. Sophomore Taylor Pilarczyk (Chicago, Ill.) kept the RU rally alive with a two-run single into left field as the Regents pulled back to within two at 6-4. Two batters later, Nicole McCabe (Brookfield, Ill.) delivered a clutch two-out RBI single of her own to make it just a one-run game heading into the bottom half of the fifth. Unfortunately the Stars responded with a five-run fifth of their own en route to a 12-5 victory.
Burris, Pilarczyk and McCabe all recorded multi-hit performances for the Regents in game one. Pilarczyk led the way going 2-for-4 with 2 runs driven in and a run scored. Burris and McCabe also had two hits apiece with an RBI.
Despite what the final score in game two might indicate, Rockford had multiple scoring opportunities but were unable to come up with a key hit. In the top of the first inning the Regents had runners on first and second with just one out following singles by Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) and Brittany Bihun (Schaumburg, Ill.). Unfortunately the Stars were able to wiggle out of the jam as they recorded two straight outs to end the threat. A similar situation arose in the second as Rockford again had runners on first and second following a one-out walk by McCabe and an infield single off the bat of Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.). However the Stars again found their way out of the jam, this time by inducing a double play to end the inning. Rockford's best scoring opportunity came in the fifth as the Regents had runners on first and third with one out. Lynn Blakeley-Snyder started the rally with a one-out double to right center. The Regents would then take advantage of a Dominican error to put runners on the corners with one out. Once again Dominican would escape without allowing a run and secure the 8-0 win.
Lisa Blakeley-Snyder and Lynn Blakeley-Snyder led the Rockford offense in the nightcap with two hits each.
The RU softball team returns to the diamond on Monday, April 17 at home against Concordia Chicago. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Smith Athletic Field.
