LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team swept the Wheaton College Thunder in exciting fashion in its first home games of the season. After falling behind in the first game, the Regents battled back and celebrated as
Jocelyn Callahan smacked a two-run home run in the ninth to win the first contest 7-5. Rockford continued its success in the nightcap by only allowing a pair of runs and scoring five runs on offense to take the 5-2 victory and the sweep over Wheaton.
Rockford 7 Wheaton 5
- Rockford got the scoring started with a bang in the first. Kariana Williams sent a ball over the fence to take a 2-0 lead.
- Wheaton responded immediately in the top of the second. Two home runs and a run on an error gave the Thunder a quick 5-2 lead.
- The Regents had no response until the bottom of the sixth, starting with an Emily Down double. Lauren Zielinski hit her own double to drive in Emily Down and cut the lead to 5-3. Enedy Perez didn't let the scoring stop there, belting a homer to left field and tying the game at 5-5.
- Mariah Martinez continued to produce all game long, only allowing 2 earned runs and recording 4 strikeouts in nine innings of work.
- It took until the ninth inning to finally get the tie breaker. Jocelyn Callahan knocked her third-career home run over the right field fence to earn the 7-5 victory in game one.
Rockford 5 Wheaton 2
- Rockford got the scoring started in the second inning. Lauren Zielinski got the first single and was brought in by Michaela Froehlich later in the inning to take a 1-0 lead.
- Bella Lima had a chance to extend the lead in the bottom of the third after an Olivia Lysaght single, and she hit a two-run homer to left center field, her first as a Regent. Rockford took a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning.
- Wheaton finally broke through in the top of the fourth. The Thunder scored a pair of runs, one off of a single to right and a second on a sacrifice fly, making the game 3-2.
- Lauren Zielinski capitalized on extending the lead in the bottom half of the inning. She singled to start the inning and later scored on a wild pitch to add run number four and creating a 4-2 lead.
- Rockford added one more run to its total by the end of the game. Kariana Williams scored from third on a single from Jocelyn Callahan to bring about the eventual score of 5-2.
- Rylee Klema polished off the Thunder in their final two innings of offense, allowing two total hits and striking a better out to secure the second game and the sweep.
Game 1
Game 2
- Bella Lima hit a home run in her 1-for-3 performance, earning 2 RBIs.
- Rylee Klema pitched 7 innings, only giving up 2 earned runs, striking out 5 batters, and giving up 0 walks.
- Lauren Zielinski finished 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored.
