WAUWATOSA, Wis. - The Rockford University softball team earned a hard-fought split on the road Friday afternoon at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The Regents dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker in the opener, where the Warriors won on a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. Fortunately, Rockford responded by winning the nightcap 12-2 in six innings. The Regents exploded for six runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth, to seize control of the game. Four different Regents had multiple hits in the game, including three-hit performances from
Bella Lima,
Jocelyn Callahan and
Lauren Zielinski.
Wisconsin Lutheran 4 Rockford 3
- Wisconsin Lutheran broke the scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Both of the Warriors' runs came with two outs in the inning, the first off an Ashley Corley RBI triple and the second on a Makayla Huff RBI double.
- Rockford answered right back with two runs of its own in the top of the second. Kariana Williams smacked a leadoff double to put a runner in scoring position with no one out. A few batters later, Michaela Froehlich drove in Williams on an RBI single to center field. The Regents would add another run off a Bella Lima RBI groundout to tie the game at 2-2.
- The Warriors were able to retake the lead with a single run in the bottom of the third. WLC had just one hit in the inning, but the Warriors used a walk and a stolen base to help manufacture the run and jump back in front 3-2.
- The score remained unchanged until the Regents tied the game in the top of the sixth. Rockford strung together back-to-back two-out walks, and then capitalized on a Wisconsin Lutheran error to plate a run and knot the game at 3-3.
- Following a scoreless bottom of the sixth, Rockford had a chance to take its first lead of the day in the top of the seventh. Enedy Perez and Michaela Froehlich strung together back-to-back one-out walks to put runners on first and second. Unfortunately, WLC retired the next two batters to end the threat and keep the game tied.
- WLC then used an infield single and a walk to put runners on first and second with only one out. Two batters later, Ashley Corley drove in the game-winning run on an RBI single into center, giving Wisconsin Lutheran a 4-3 win.
Rockford 12 Wisconsin Lutheran 2
- Rockford struck first with a single run in the top of the second inning. With runners on first and third and just one out, the Regents were able to get into and stay in a rundown between first and second long enough for Jocelyn Callahan to score from third and take a 1-0 lead.
- The Regents would tack on another run in the fourth. Jocelyn Callahan got things started with a one-out single, and then worked her way over to second base. Lauren Zielinski proceeded to single in Callahan and extend the Regents' lead to 2-0.
- The Warriors were however able to get that run back off a pair of singles in the bottom half of the fourth.
- Rockford then blew the game wide open with six runs in the fifth inning. The Regents quickly loaded the bases with no one out. Emily Down then laced an RBI single into left, which also got past the the left fielder, scoring two more runs and giving Rockford a 5-1 advantage. Lauren Zielinski and Enedy Perez each drove in a run later on in the inning and Zielinski would score the final run on a wild pitch, to make it an 8-1 Rockford lead.
- WLC scored a single run off three-hits in the bottom of the fifth to cut the RU lead down to 8-2.
- The Regents would seal the win with four more runs in the sixth. Candace Kipp drove in the first run of the inning on an RBI single into center. Kariana Williams then made it a 10-2 Regent lead via a sacrifice fly to left. Rockford's final two runs of the game came on an Enedy Perez two-run single to left field.
- Twelve runs were more than enough for the RU pitching staff. Rylee Klema started and allowed just two runs over her 4.2 innings pitched. Mariah Martinez then came in and tossed 1.1 shutout innings to preserve Rockford's 12-2 victory.
Game 1
- Michaela Froehlich went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
- Lauren Zielinski went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
- Mariah Martinez pitched 6.2 innings, allowing 4 runs and striking out 6 batters.
- Rockford hitters combined to break the school record with 5 hit by pitches in a game.
- The Regents also broke the RU single-season stolen bases record with a pair of steals in the opener. Rockford now has 66 steals after stealing two more bases in game two.
Game 2
- Jocelyn Callahan went 3-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and 4 runs scored.
- Lauren Zielinski was 3-for-4 with a stolen base, 2 RBIs and a run scored.
- Bella Lima finished 3-for-4 with a run scored.
- Enedy Perez went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.
- Candace Kipp finished 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Kipp now has 30 walks this season, which is just one shy of tying the NACC single-season walks record.
- Rylee Klema earned her third win of the season on Friday. Klema went 4.2 innings, allowed just 2 runs and struck out 1 hitter.
