FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University softball team (1-0) opened its season with a dramatic 12-9 comeback win in eight innings over the Kenyon College Ladies (4-1). Rockford trailed 6-0 heading into the top of the seventh inning, but scored eight runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth, to secure its second straight win over Kenyon. The Regents pounded out 14 hits in the game, with eight players recording at least one hit. Five different Regents finished with multiple hits, led by a 3-for-4 performance from
Candace Kipp.
- Kenyon took a quick 1-0 lead off a pair of hits in the bottom of the first inning. However, it could have been much worse if not for what turned out to be a key defensive play by outfielder Elizabeth Thomas. With one run already in and runners on first and second and only one out, Thomas fielded a ball hit back up the middle and proceeded to throw out a runner at the plate to keep just a one-run game.
- Unfortunately, things would get worse for the Regents before they got better. Kenyon took advantage of three Regent errors and scored five unearned runs in the bottom of the second, to extend its lead to 6-0.
- However, over the next four innings, pitcher Mariah Martinez and Regent defense really hunkered down and did an excellent job of keeping the Ladies at bay. Martinez scattered 3 hits and did not allow run over that span, to keep it a 6-run game. She was particularly effective over the last few innings, when she retired seven straight batters heading into the seventh.
- The Regent bats finally came alive and scored eight runs in the top of the seventh. Rockford scored its first run of the frame on an error by Kenyon and then loaded the bases with no one out off an Iasbella Intravaia single. Emily Cox was then hit by a pitch to force in Rockford's second run and make it 6-2. After a fielder's choice, Jocelyn Callahan and Elizabeth Thomas drove in a run via an RBI single and a hit by pitch to cut the deficit to just 6-4. One batter later, Michaela Spanbauer crushed a bases clearing 3-run double down the left field line, to give Rockford its first lead of the game at 7-6. The Regents tacked on what turned out to be a crucial insurance run off a Candace Kipp RBI double and took a 8-6 advantage into the bottom of the seventh.
- Those two runs turned out to be huge for the Regents, as Kenyon scored a pair of two-out runs in the bottom half of the frame to knot the game at 8-8 and send it into extras.
- All softball games that go into extra innings at the Gene Cusic Classic feature the International Tie-Breaker Rule, which dictates that a runner is placed on second base to start the inning.
- Jocelyn Callahan would break the tie with an RBI single back up the middle and put Rockford back out in front 9-8. After an infield single loaded the bases, Michaela Spanbauer hit a sacrifice fly to drive in her fourth run of the game and give the Regents a 10-8 lead. One batter later, Candace Kipp drove in a run on an RBI single, and then the Regents took advantage of a Kenyon error to plate an additional run on the play and take a 12-8 lead into the bottom half of the inning.
- The Ladies were able to score one run in the eighth thanks to the International Tie-Breaker Rule, but it was not enough, as Rockford completed an incredible 12-9 comeback win.
- Candace Kipp finished 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs and a run scored.
- Jocelyn Callahan went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
- Elizabeth Thomas was 2-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored.
- Emily Cox finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
- Isabella Intravaia was 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored.
- Mariah Martinez pitched all 8 innings for the Regents to pick up the win. She allowed just 3 earned runs and struck out 2.
