AURORA, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team (6-6, 0-2 NACC) suffered a pair of heartbreaking, one-run losses at Aurora University (11-1, 2-0 NACC) on Friday afternoon. The Regents had a lead late in both games, but unfortunately, were unable to hold on. In game one, Rockford held a 4-2 lead in the sixth, thanks in large part to an
Emily Cox two-run home run in the fifth. However, the Spartans struck for three runs in the bottom of the sixth and took the opener by a final score of 5-4. In game two, Rockford scored six straight runs to erase a 7-2 deficit and take an 8-7 lead into the seventh. Unfortunately, Aurora was able to scratch across a pair of runs with two outs and secure a 9-8 win.
Game 1
- The Regents and Spartans combined to score just one unearned run over the first four innings. The Spartans scored the lone run off a Regent error in the bottom of the first and grabbed an early 1-0 lead.
- The game remained 1-0 through the fourth inning thanks in large part to solid pitching from Mariah Martinez. Martinez surrendered just three hits through the first four innings and entered the fifth having retired the previous six batters.
- The Rockford offense finally came to life with a trio of runs in the top of the fifth. Breanna Collins and Olivia Swanson got things started with a walk and single to left. The Regents would then take advantage of a Spartan error to score their first run of the day and tie the game at 1-1. One batter later, Emily Cox crushed a mammoth two-run home run over the right field wall and put the Regents out in front 3-1.
- The Spartans were able to cut Rockford's lead in half with a run off one hit in the bottom half of the inning, to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
- Rockford responded with a run of its own in the top of the sixth, to re-establish its two-run lead. Jocelyn Callahan and Courtney Kipp began the inning with a walk and a double, to put runners on second and third with no one out. A couple of batters later, the Regents scored on a passed ball and made it a 4-2 game.
- Unfortunately, Aurora scored three runs, two of which were unearned, in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead.
- Rockford then went down in order in the seventh, as Aurora won the opener by a 5-4 final.
Game 2
- Game two got off to a bit of a rocky start, with Rockford falling behind 3-0 after one inning of play. The Spartans used five hits to score their three runs and grab the early lead.
- Rockford was able to answer with a single run in the top of the second. Isabella Intravaia jump-started the offense with a one-out single into left. One batter later, Breanna Collins laced an RBI double into right center, scoring Intravaia, and trimming the Spartan lead to 3-1.
- Unfortunately, Aurora put up three more runs off three hits in the bottom of the second, to extend its lead to 6-1.
- Rockford did not give in though, but instead slowly chipped away at the deficit over the next three innings.
- Both the Regents and Spartans scored a run in the third. Rockford had runners on the corners with no one out following a Spartan miscue and an Emily Cox single. One batter later, the Regents made it a 6-2 game when Elizabeth Thomas scored on a 6-3 double play. Aurora then answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame, to push its lead back to five runs.
- The RU offensive attack continued to chip away at the Aurora lead with a two-run fourth inning. Breanna Collins and Emily Down delivered a single and a double to put runners on second and third with just one out. One batter later, Olivia Swanson roped an RBI single into center field to score Collins. A couple of batters after that, Emily Cox made it a 7-4 game with a sacrifice fly to left field.
- Rockford then exploded for four runs in the fifth to take the lead for the first time in the game. Courtney Kipp opened the inning with a solo home run to pull her team back within two. Following two quick outs, Emily Down hit a ground-rule double and Olivia Swanson walked, to bring the tying run to the plate. Elizabeth Thomas proceeded to drive in a run with an RBI single, and then Rockford scored two additional runs on the play off a Spartan error, to grab an 8-7 lead.
- The game remained 8-7 until the bottom of the seventh. The Spartans had a runner on second with two outs when Josephine Lytton tied the game on an RBI single back up the middle. One batter later, Jemma Fiehweg hit a game-winning bloop single into left, to give Aurora a 9-8 comeback win.
Game 1
Game 2
- Elizabeth Thomas finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base and 2 runs scored.
- Emily Cox went 2-for-3 with an RBI and extended her hitting streak to 12 games.
- Candace Kipp was 1-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored.
- Emily Down finished 2-for-3 with 2 doubles and a run scored.
- Breanna Collins was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
