Dubuque, Iowa - The Rockford University softball team (22-16) earned a hard-fought road split on Tuesday afternoon against the University of Dubuque Spartans (22-14). Dubuque used a five-run fifth inning to take the opener by a final score of 9-2. Fortunately, the Rockford offense erupted for eight runs, including a five-run fifth, to take game two by a final score of 8-7. The Regents pounded out 11 hits in the game, including three extra-base hits, as Rockford earned an impressive road victory over the Spartans. 

Game 1

• Rockford had chances to score in each of the first two innings, but unfortunately, came up empty. 
• Emily Cox and Mikayla Seay singled and walked in the top of the first, to put runners and first and second with only one out. After a fielder's choice moved Cox to third, Rockford had runners on the corners with two outs. Unfortunately, the Spartans retired the next hitter to end the inning. 
• Jocelyn Callahan led off the second inning with a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then worked her way over to third on a groundout. However, the Spartans were again able to wiggle out of the jam and keep the game scoreless. 
• The Regents finally broke through with a single run in the third.
• Annaka Bartz led off the frame with a solo shot to left center field, to give Rockford a 1-0 lead. 
• The lead was short lived though, as the Spartans answered with a trio of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Dubuque strung together four hits, including a pair of RBI singles, to take a 3-1 lead. 
• Rockford was able to cut the deficit in half with a single run in the top of the fourth. 
• Paige Korsan led off the inning with a single to left and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. 
• After an error moved Korsan to third, Emily Cox ripped an RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Korsan and make it just a 3-2 game. 
• Unfortunately, the Spartans responded with five runs in the home half of the inning. Dubuque pounded out six hits and capitalized on one Rockford error to score its five runs and take a commanding a 8-2 lead. 
• The Spartans would tack on one final run in the sixth en route to a 9-2 victory.

Game 2

• The Regents struck first with a single run in the top of the first inning. 
• Annaka Bartz led off the game with a single and then stole second. After an Emily Cox infield single put runners on first and second, both runners advanced one base on a wild pitch. One batter later, Gretchen Schrubbe drove in Bartz on a sacrifice fly, to give Rockford a quick 1-0 lead. 
• The game remained 1-0 until Dubuque tied it in the bottom of the second. The Spartans led off the frame with a triple and then scored one batter later on an RBI groundout. 
• Rockford then retook the lead in the top of the third. Annaka Bartz again got things started, this time with a one-out double. Two batters later, Mikayla Seay drove an RBI single into right, to give her team a 2-1 advantage. 
• However, the back-and-forth affair continued in the bottom half of the inning. The Spartans were able to take a 3-2 lead off a two-run home run from Emily Bloomer. 
• The score remained unchanged until the RU offense exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth. Jessica Kearns got things started with a one-out double to left. One batter later, Annaka Bartz singled, and Jessica Kearns scored thanks to a Spartan error, which tied the game at 3-3. Following a walk and a fielder's choice, Rockford retook the lead on an RBI single off the bat of Gretchen Schrubbe. Breanna Collins followed with a two-run triple of her own, to extend the lead to 6-3. Two batters later, Jocelyn Callahan drove in the final run of the inning on an RBI single back up the middle. 
• However, the Spartans did get one run back in the bottom of the fifth off a solo home run from Morgan Turnmire.  
• Fortunately, Rockford was able to tack on one more insurance run in the top of the sixth. Annaka Bartz once again was catalyst for the RU offense, this time with a one-out walk. Emily Cox then singled, and thanks to some heads up base running, both runners were able to advance, to put runners on second and third with one out. One batter later, Mikayla Seay drove in Bartz on a sacrifice fly to center, to give her team an 8-4 lead. 
• However, Dubuque got that run right back in the home half of the inning off a solo home run from Lauren Brown. 
• Things would then get a little bit dicey for the Regents in the bottom of the seventh. After a single and two quick outs, the Spartans tallied back-to-back singles to load the bases. Dubuque then pulled within one after a two-run single to center, that ended up putting the tying run on third and the winning run on second. 
• Fortunately, senior pitcher Mikayla Seay dug deep and induced a 5-3 groundout to end the game and secure a thrilling 8-7 road win. 

Game 1

• Emily Cox was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Annaka Bartz was 1-for-4 with a solo home run.
• Paige Korsan went 2-for-3 with a run scored. 
• Gretchen Schrubbe went 2-for-4. 
• Mariah Martinez threw the final 2 innings. She allowed just 2 hits and 1 run, while striking out 1. 

Game 2

• Annaka Bartz was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and four runs scored. 
• Emily Cox finished 2-for-3. 
• Jocelyn Callahan went 2-for-4 with an RBI. 
• Mikayla Seay, Gretchen Schrubbe and Breanna Collins each had 1 hit, scored a run and drove in 2 runs. 

Rockford will play its first ever game in the NACC Tournament on Thursday, May 6 against Benedictine. First pitch of the game is set for 7 PM in Montgomery, Ill. at Aurora University Bedrosian Stadium at Spartan Athletic Park.