FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Rockford University softball team earned a pair of victories on Wednesday over Grove City College and the University at Pittsburg-Bradford. Rockford scored nine runs in the first three innings en route to a 9-6 win over Grove City. The Regents exploded for six runs in the third to help seal the victory. In the second game of the day, Rockford scored in five of the six innings to earn a 9-1 run-rule win over the Panthers. The Regents never trailed in the game and scored the final eight runs, including a walk-off, two-run double by
Bella Lima, for their second win in as many years over Pitt.-Bradford.
Rockford 9 Grove City 6
- Rockford took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kariana Williams drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single. Four batters later, Emily Down walked with the bases loaded to give the Regents a two-run advantage heading into the second.
- The Regents added a single run in the second inning on a Candace Kipp RBI double, to make it a 3-0 Rockford lead.
- However, the Wolverines exploded for five runs in the top of the third to take their first lead of the day. The bulk of those runs came off a three-run home run by Lauren McNeil.
- Fortunately, Rockford responded with six runs off six hits in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead. Jennifer Ruesch drove in the first run of the inning on an RBI bunt single. Two batters later, Enedy Perez stole home to tie the game at 5-5. Kariana Williams and Isabella Intravaia each had RBI singles and Candace Kipp crushed a two-run double to left, as Rockford took a commanding 9-5 lead.
- The Regents four-run lead was more than enough for RU pitcher Mariah Martinez, who pitched the final 4.1 innings in relief. Martinez retired the first five batters she faced before allowing her only run of the game in the fifth.
- Martinez then proceeded to close out the game with a scoreless sixth and a seventh inning to seal the 9-6 win.
Rockford 9 Pitt.-Bradford 1 (6 Innings)
- Rockford was able to manufacture the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Bella Lima got things started with a leadoff single to right and then worked her way over to third on a pair of wild pitches. One batter later, Jocelyn Callahan knocked in Lima to give the Regents a 1-0 lead.
- Pitt.-Bradford tied the game in the top of the second with a run off two hits.
- However, the Regents responded with a trio of runs in the bottom of the frame. Kariana Williams put Rockford back in front 2-1 on an RBI infield single. One batter later, Candace Kipp cracked a two-run double into right center, scoring Callahan and Williams, and making it a 4-1 Regent lead.
- A three-run lead was more than enough for RU starting pitcher Mariah Martinez. Martinez tossed her best outing of season, allowing just the one run off six hits. She was particularly dominant during the middle portion of the game, retiring nine out of ten batters, including seven straight.
- The RU offense did provide additional insurance runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
- Rockford used a pair of walks and a Panther error to manufacture its run in the fourth and a single, stolen base, another Panther miscue and a Kariana Williams sacrifice fly to make it a 6-1 game heading into the sixth.
- The Regents scored all three of their runs in the sixth with two outs. Jennifer Ruesch drove in Lauren Zielinski on a bunt single for the first run of the inning, and then Bella Lima delivered the game-ending two-run double into left center, scoring Ruesch and Emily Down for the 9-1 win.
Grove City
- Mariah Martinez tossed 4.1 innings in relief to earn her first win of the season. She surrendered just 1 run off 4 hits and struck out 3 batters.
- Candace Kipp went 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and a run scored.
- Emily Down finished 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
- Kariana Williams was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
- Bella Lima went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- Jennifer Ruesch finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, 2 runs scored and a stolen base.
Pitt.-Bradford
- Mariah Martinez fired her second complete game of the season. Martinez allowed just 1 run off 6 hits, struck out 1 and walked none over her six innings of work.
- Bella Lima went 4-for-5 with a double, 3 runs scored, 2 stolen bases and 2 runs batted in.
- Jennifer Ruesch was 2-for-4 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored.
- Kariana Williams finished 1-for-2 with a walk, 2 stolen bases, 2 runs scored and an RBI.
- Candace Kipp went 1-for-2 with a double, 2 walks and 2 RBIs.
