MEQUON, Wis. - The Rockford University softball team (15-19, 7-13 NACC) earned a hard-fought split on the road Wednesday afternoon against the fifteenth-ranked Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons (28-4, 16-3). The opener went back and forth, with at least one team scoring in all seven innings. Rockford had three home runs in the game, including the game-winning, two-run home run off the bat of
Candace Kipp in the top of the seventh.
Mariah Martinez then worked her way out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh, to secure the 7-6 win. Game two was the definition of a pitcher's duel between Rockford's
Rylee Klema and Concordia Wisconsin's Gina Followell. Klema allowed just two runs, while Followell surrendered a single run in the top of the seventh, as CUW escaped with a 2-1 win in the nightcap.
Game 1
- Rockford took an early 2-0 lead over the Falcons in the top of the first inning. Emily Cox singled and Candace Kipp walked, to put runners on first and second with only one out. Michaela Spanbauer followed with an RBI double into left field, to give Rockford a quick 1-0 lead. Rockford's other run in the inning came off a sacrifice bunt from Jocelyn Callahan.
- The Falcons would tie the game in the bottom of the second, scoring a pair of unearned runs off three hits and one Regent error.
- The back and forth nature of the game continued in the top of the third, when the Regents scored an unearned run of their own. Elizabeth Thomas reached on an infield single, stole second and then advanced to third on an error. Two batters later, Candace Kipp drove in Thomas on an RBI single into left, giving the Regents a 3-2 lead.
- However, Rockford's lead was shot-lived, as the Falcons tied the game off a solo home run from Taylor Kuske.
- The Regents answered with a home run of their own in the top of the fourth to retake the lead. Emily Down crushed her third home run of the season, giving Rockford a 4-3 advantage.
- Unfortunately, the Falcons were able to score a run off no hits in the bottom half of the inning to once again tie the game.
- Rockford responded with its second home run in as many innings to jump back in front. Emily Cox led off the inning with a solo shot to left center field and gave the Regents a 5-4 lead.
- The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the sixth when CUW retook the lead. Concordia Wisconsin plated a pair of runs off two hits to take a 6-5 lead into the seventh.
- The Regents got just one hit in the seventh, but it was a huge, game-deciding hit. Elizabeth Thomas began the inning by reaching base on a CUW fielding error. Two batters later, Candace Kipp crushed what turned out to be the game-winning, two-run home run, to put Rockford in front 7-6.
- Senior pitcher Mariah Martinez found herself in a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh, but was able to induce a fly ball to center field to end the game and secure the win.
Game 2
- Game two turned out to be an exciting pitcher's duel. The Regents and Falcons combined to score just three runs off a total of eleven hits.
- Rockford's Rylee Klema allowed just two runs off six hits over her six innings of work. Klema was especially effective in the middle innings, as she allowed just one hit from the second through the fourth inning.
- However, it was the Falcons who broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the first. CUW had three hits in the inning but managed just one run, to grab an early 1-0 lead.
- The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fifth. Concordia Wisconsin managed just one hit in the inning, but took advantage of a walk and a hit batsman to score a run and extend its advantage to 2-0.
- The Regents were able to score a single run in the top of the seventh off a Breanna Collins home run. However, it was not enough, as the Falcons held on for the 2-1 win.
Game 1
- Candace Kipp finished 2-for-3 with a home run, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
- Emily Cox was 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and 2 runs scored.
- Emily Down went 2-for-3 with a home run.
- Mariah Martinez earned the win to improve to 10-9 this season. Martinez threw all 7 innings and allowed just 4 earned runs.
Game 2
- Rylee Klema threw all 6 innings for the Regents. Klema allowed just 2 runs off 6 hits.
- Breanna Collins was 1-for-3 with a home run.
- Candace Kipp went 1-for-3 with a double. It was Kipp's 17th double of the season, which ties the Rockford University single-season doubles record.
