WHEATON, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team (10-15) dropped a nonconference road doubleheader on Saturday afternoon to the Wheaton College Thunder (13-15). The opener was a lot closer than what the final score might indicate. Rockford held an early 1-0 lead and trailed by a score of 3-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Unfortunately, the Thunder struck for a total of seven runs over the next two innings to secure a 10-2 win. Game two seemingly belonged to the Regents from the start. Rockford scored a run in the top of the first and entered the bottom of the seventh having never trailed and still holding a 3-2 advantage. Unfortunately, the Thunder struck for a pair of runs, including a game-winning, two-out RBI single from Emilie Gist, to sweep the doubleheader with a 4-3 victory.


Game 1

• Rockford took an early lead with a single run in the top of the first. Elizabeth Thomas began the game with a walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch, to put herself in scoring position with no one out. Senior Emily Cox promptly laced an RBI single back up the middle to score Thomas, and give the Regents a quick 1-0 advantage. 
• Wheaton answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second to take its first lead of the day. The Thunder capitalized on a Regent error that put a runner on base with two outs. Wheaton's Anese Antonello then proceeded to belt a two-run home run over the left center field wall and give the Thunder a 2-1 lead. 
• However, Rockford would tie the game with another single run in the top of the third. Elizabeth Thomas again got things rolling, this time with a leadoff single. After a wild pitch moved Thomas to second, Emily Cox then drove in her second run of the game on an RBI double to center, to tie it at 2-2. 
• The Thunder were able to retake the lead with a run the bottom half of the inning. Wheaton used a pair of hits to score its run and jump back out in front 3-2. 
• The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fifth, when Wheaton blew the game wide open. The Thunder needed just one hit to score its four runs, but the lone hit in the frame was a grand slam off the bat of Olivia Nahorniak, to give Wheaton a commanding 7-2 lead. 
• Wheaton then ended the game with three runs off four hits in the bottom of the sixth, to secure the 10-2 victory. 

Game 2

• The second game of the doubleheader featured a pair of excellent pitching performances from Rockford's Rylee Klema and Wheaton's Alese Antonello. Both pitchers went the distance and allowed just two earned runs each. The two also combined to strike out eight hitters in the game. 
• Just like in the opener, the Regents were able to strike first with a run in the top of the first inning. Elizabeth Thomas and Emily Cox began the game with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no one out. A couple of batters later, Breanna Collins drove in Thomas with an RBI single to left and gave Rockford an early 1-0 lead. 
• Rockford would extend its lead to 3-0 following a two-run third. Emily Cox got things started with a leadoff home run and made it a 2-0 ballgame. Michaela Spanbauer and Isabella Intravaia each followed with singles to help put runners on first and second with one out. Jocelyn Callahan then made it a 3-0 RU lead with an RBI double into right. 
• Unfortunately, Wheaton got both of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning. The Thunder took advantage of two Regent errors to plate a pair of unearned runs and make it a 3-2 game. 
• The Regents had chances in both the fifth and sixth innings to extend their lead, but unfortunately, stranded a total of five runners on base and entered the seventh holding just a 3-2 advantage. 
• The Thunder would then tie the game on a pair of doubles in the bottom of the seventh, before ultimately winning it on a walk-off, two-out RBI single by Emilie Gist.   

Game 1

• Emily Cox went 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBIs. 
• Elizabeth Thomas finished a perfect 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored and a walk. 
• Michaela Spanbauer was 1-for-2 with a walk. 

Game 2

• Emily Cox finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a run scored and an RBI.
• Breanna Collins was also 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
• Elizabeth Thomas went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.
• Jocelyn Callahan finished 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
• Rylee Klema threw her seventh complete game of the season on Saturday. Klema surrendered just 4 hits and 2 earned runs, while striking out 1 batter.

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