MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Rockford University softball team (10-4) dropped its first two road games of the season on Wednesday at the seventeenth-ranked MSOE Raiders (13-1). Rockford fell 8-0 in the opener and then lost the nightcap 8-3. The opener was dominated by MSOE, as the Raiders allowed just two hits and held the Regents scoreless for the first time this season. The second game was much closer than the final score might indicate. Rockford trailed just 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but surrendered a trio of runs to help the Raiders secure the series sweep.
Game 1:
- Rockford had a chance to strike first in the top of the first inning.
- Mikayla Seay crushed a two-out double into right center to put a runner in scoring position. However, the Raiders retired the next batter to end the threat.
- MSOE then took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Raiders used four hits and took advantage of a walk to plate the three runs.
- The Raiders extended their lead to 7-0 after scoring a pair of runs in both the second and third innings.
- However, The Regents had another good scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth.
- Emily Cox led off with a single and Mikayla Seay was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no one out. Unfortunately, MSOE retired the next three batters to keep it a 7-0 game.
- MSOE added one more run in the bottom half of the frame en route to an 8-0 win in game one.
Game 2:
- The Regents again had a chance to take the lead in the top of the first inning after an Emily Cox one-out double.
- Unfortunately, Rockford would strand Cox on second, as the game remained scoreless.
- MSOE responded with a five-run bottom of the first. The Raiders used four hits, including a double and a triple, to score their five runs.
- The score remained 5-0 until Rockford was finally able to scratch across a pair of runs in the fourth.
- Gretchen Schrubbe and Michaela Spanbauer got things started with a single and walk to put runners on first and second with no one out.
- After a flyout moved the runners up a base, Paige Korsan drove in the first run of the game for Rockford on a sacrifice fly to left field.
- One batter later, Destiny Kelsey laced an RBI single into center to cut the Raider lead down to 5-2.
- The score remained 5-2 until the top of the sixth when the Regents added another run.
- Gretchen Schrubbe and Michaela Spanbauer again jump-started the offensive attack with a single and a walk.
- Three batters later, Destiny Kelsey reached on an infield single, and then all the runners moved up one additional base on a MSOE error to make it a 5-3 game.
- However, the Raiders would put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the inning. MSOE scored three runs off four hits to make it 8-3.
- Rockford then went down in order in the top of the seventh as the Raiders completed the sweep.
Game 1:
Game 2:
The RU softball team returns home on Thursday, April 1 to face #18 Dubuque. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 5 PM at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two.
