LOVES PARK, Ill. - The RU softball team (6-4) dropped a pair of games Thursday evening to the University of Dubuque (10-2). The Regents fell 8-4 in the opener and then dropped the nightcap 4-2 in eight innings. Rockford jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning, but unfortunately, was outscored 8-1 over the next six innings, as the Spartans won the opener. In game two,
Rylee Klema pitched eight solid innings, allowing just two earned runs, but the Spartans capitalized off a couple of Regent miscues to win the game in extra innings.
Emily Cox extended her hitting streak to ten games, highlighted by a three-for-four performance in game two.
Dubuque 8 Rockford 4
- The Regents got it started in the bottom of the first. Elizabeth Thomas scored on a throwing error after a fielder's choice by the third baseman. Isabella Intravaia hit a single shortly after that drove in a pair of unearned runs, and Rockford went into the second inning ahead 3-0.
- Dubuque shortened the lead on one swing of the bat in the bottom of the inning. A two-run home run put the score at 3-2.
- In the top of the third, after a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up, Dubuque hit a two-run triple to take the lead from the Regents and move the score to 4-3. The third base runner scored on an error on the next play and the lead stood at 5-3.
- Olivia Swanson stepped up in the bottom half of the inning, she hit a single for her pinch hit at-bat and drove in Candace Kipp. Rockford was in striking distance at 5-4.
- Rockford was held scoreless for the remainder of the game while Dubuque put up three more runs before the end of the game, taking the first game 8-4.
Dubuque 4 Rockford 2
- Game two was a great pitching duel that held both teams at bay on offense.
- Dubuque got its first opportunity in the top of the third. The Spartans had a runner on first and third with only one out, but Rylee Klema was able to get the next two batters to groundout and flyout to keep Dubuque scoreless.
- Rockford struck first in the bottom of the third. Emily Cox drove in the first run from third on a single to left and Michaela Spanbauer hit a double to left center that scored a second run from third.
- It was a quiet next few innings, as the Regents came onto the field hoping to hold the Spartans in the top of the seventh. Dubuque finally got its offense going, scoring a runner from second on a single to left field to cut it to 2-1. The Spartans were down to their last out, but an error allowed a runner on base and the player on third to score the tying run. At 2-2, it forced a bottom half of the inning for Rockford to potentially win it.
- The Regents were unable to score, and the eighth inning was underway. Dubuque hit a triple to put the go-ahead run on third base with only one out. The Spartans hit a sacrifice fly to were able to score the run from third. An error from the Regents gave Dubuque another runner on second base, who scored on the next at-bat on a single, making the score 4-2.
- Rockford could only muster a single before the third out was recorded. Dubuque completed the comeback win, 4-2.
Game 1
- Emily Down hit a triple on 1-for-2 hitting with a walk.
- Isabella Intravaia had a huge hit that drove in a team high 2 RBI's.
- Emily Cox hit 2-for-4, extending her hitting streak to 9 games.
Game 2
- Rylee Klema threw 6 shutout innings before recording her two earned runs on the day. She also tallied 3 strikeouts.
- Emily Cox was 3-for-4 with an RBI, her hitting streak stayed intact again, now at 10 games.
- Isabella Intravaia stole a base.
