NAPLES, Fla. - The Rockford University softball team opened its season with a pair of high-scoring games on Sunday afternoon. The Regents fell 9-8 in extra innings to Drew University, and then dropped their second game of the day 13-9 to John Carroll University. Rockford was up 5-2 on Drew heading into the bottom of the seventh but surrendered a three-run home run, which tied the game and sent it into extras. The Regents would score three in the top of the eighth but allowed four in the bottom half for a tough 9-8 loss. Rockford fell behind 6-1 against John Carroll but rallied all the way back to tie it at 7-7 after four innings of play. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, as the Regents allowed six runs over the final three innings and fell for the second time on the day.
Drew 9 Rockford 8 (8 Innings)
- Both the Regents and Rangers wasted little time scoring their first run of the season.
- Rockford used three walks and a passed ball to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
- Drew then answered with a pair of runs off just one hit but took advantage of a Regent error to take a 2-1 lead heading into the second.
- The score remained unchanged until the Regents exploded for four runs in the fourth. Jocelyn Callahan and Candice Kipp each plated a run with an RBI single, and then they both stole home on a pair of double steals with runners on the corners.
- Rockford held onto its 5-2 lead until Drew tied the game on a 3-run home run in the bottom of the seventh. The Regents retired the next two hitters to send the game into extras.
- Candace Kipp and Lauren Zielinski put Rockford back in front 7-5 with a pair of two-out RBI singles in the top of the eighth. Michaela Froehlich then capped off the Regents' three-run eighth with an RBI walk, to give Rockford an 8-5 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.
- Unfortunately, Drew scored four runs off five hits in its half of the eighth en route to securing the 9-8 win.
John Carroll 13 Rockford 9
- Rockford again scored a run in the first inning to grab a 1-0 lead. The Regents loaded the bases with one out, and then Emily Drown drew a walk to put her team out in front heading into the second.
- Unfortunately, the Blue Streaks responded with a six-run second inning. John Carroll had just three hits but took advantage of two Regent errors to score its six runs, four of which were unearned.
- However, Rockford was able to get two of the runs back in the bottom half of the frame. The Regents used a pair of singles to put runners on second and third with two outs. Kariana Williams then smacked a two-run double down the left field line to make it a 6-3 game.
- John Carroll would tack on another unearned run in the top of the fourth to make it 7-3.
- The Regent offense then came roaring back with four runs off five hits in the bottom half of the inning. Rockford loaded the bases with a trio of singles and Candace Kipp cleared them with a three-run double to left. One batter later, Emily Down tied the game at 7-7 on an RBI single to left center.
- The Blue Streaks wasted little time retaking the lead in the top of the fifth. John Carroll scored three runs off four hits to jump back in front 10-7.
- The score remained unchanged until the Regents made it a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth. Rockford had no hits in the inning, but took advantage of two walks and two errors to score a pair of unearned runs.
- Unfortunately, the Blue Streaks once again answered with three runs in the top of the seventh and went on to win by a final score of 13-9.
Drew
- Candace Kipp went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs, a stolen base, a walk and a run scored.
- Lauren Zielinski was also 3-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.
- Jocelyn Callahan finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and 2 runs scored.
John Carroll
