LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team won 9-0 in 5 innings in game one and 10-9 in game two in a doubleheader showdown with Beloit College Wednesday afternoon. In game one, the Regents got a stellar performance from their starting pitcher
Mariah Martinez, who delivered a 2-hit shutout in 5 innings of work. The offense was also firing for Rockford, plating 8 runs in just 2 innings en route to the game-one blowout. In game 2, the Regents fell into a 5-0 deficit early but were slowly able to chip away as the game went on. Rockford finally exploded for 6 runs in the bottom of the 6th, which flipped the game around and ultimately allowed the Regents to walk away with the sweep over the Buccaneers.
Game 1: Rockford 9 Beloit 0
- After a perfect inning delivered by Mariah Martinez in the top of the 1st, Rockford struck first in the bottom half with a run scored by Jocelyn Callahan via an error to put the Regents up 1-0.
- The Regents were able to add on thanks to a 7-run bottom of the 2nd thanks to an RBI double by Olivia Lysaght, a 2-run double by Chayton Krueger, a 2-run single by Emily Down, an RBI triple from Kariana Williams and an RBI single from Enedy Perez to put Rockford up 8-0.
- Beloit did threaten in the bottom of the 3rd with two runners on, but the Regents were able to get through the inning unscathed.
- Rockford tacked another run to the tally in the 3rd inning with an RBI ground out by Jocelyn Callahan to make it a 9-0 lead.
- Mariah Martinez was able to stay in control of the Beloit hitters for the remainder of the game and Rockford was able to walk out of game 1 with a big 9-0 win in 5 innings.
Game 2: Rockford 10 Beloit 9
- Beloit was the one to open up the scoring in game 2 with a 5-run top of the 1st inning on 5 hits that left the Regents in an early 5-0 hole.
- Rockford was able to respond right back with a 3-run bottom of the 1st, scoring on multiple Buccaneer errors and an RBI double by Rylee Klema to make it a 5-3 game.
- The Buccaneers took those runs right back, plating two more on four hits in the top of the 2nd to put themselves up 7-3.
- Both offenses were held in check over the next two innings until Rockford was able to plate another run in the 4th inning thanks to an error to make the score 7-4.
- Both teams were again held stagnant until the Buccaneers were able to add to their lead with a single run in the top of the 6th to extend the lead to 8-4.
- With 6 outs to get something going, the Regents did just that, after getting the first two runners on in the bottom of the 6th, Olivia Lysaght was able to push one of those runners across with an RBI double to cut the score to 8-5, then Jocelyn Callahan plated the next runner with an RBI single to make it 8-6.
- Emily Down continued things for Rockford, coming up with an RBI single to give the Regents their first lead of the game at 9-8 and Kariana Williams capped things off with an RBI triple to push the score to 10-8.
- The Buccaneers did threaten in the top of the 7th, plating one run via the long ball, but Mariah Martinez was able to power through, get the save and allow Rockford to complete the sweep of Beloit.
Game 1
- Mariah Martinez delivered a 2-hit shutout, only facing 18 total batters all game and racking up 4 strikeouts.
- Emily Down produced a 2-2 day with a double, a single, a run scored and 2 RBIs.
- Olivia Lysaght had a 2-2 day with a double, a triple, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI.
Game 2
- Rylee Klema provided a solid outing with 5.0 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs and picking up a season-high 7 strikeouts. She also was 2-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI.
- Chayton Krueger went 2-3, with 2 singles and an RBI.
- Emily Down provided the go-ahead 2-run single and also scored 2 runs.
