LISLE, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team earned an impressive split on the road Friday afternoon at Benedictine University. Both games featured outstanding pitching performances from the Regents and the Eagles. Rockford Univesity starting pitchers Mariah Martinez and Rylee Klema each tossed a complete game, allowing a combined total of just three runs. Unfortunately, it was the Eagles who came out on top 2-1 in the opener thanks to a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. However, the roles were reversed in the nightcap. This time it was Rylee Klema who delivered what turned out to be the game-winning RBI single in the top of the ninth. She then sat down the Eagles in order in the bottom half of the inning to secure a 2-1 win in game two.


Game 1

• Rockford opened the game with a run in the top of the first inning.
• Emily Down got things started with a two-out double to left field. One batter later, Kariana Williams roped an RBI single into left, scoring Down, and giving Rockford an early 1-0 lead.
• Pitcher Mariah Martinez did an excellent job of containing the Benedictine offense. Martinez held the Eagles off the scoreboard for the first five innings and allowed just one extra base hit the entire game. 
• Rockford had a chance to extend its lead in the fourth. Kariana Williams laced a leadoff double into left to put herself in scoring position with no one out. Rockford would then bunt Williams over to third. Unfortunately, Benedictine was able to retire two of the next three batters and wiggle out of the jam.
• A couple of innings later, the Eagles finally got on the board with a single run in the sixth. Benedictine had two hits in the frame, including an RBI double, to knot the game at 1-1. 
• After retiring the Regents in order in the top of the seventh, Benedictine used a one-out single and a stolen base to put the winning run on second with two outs. Unfortunately, Benedictine's Haley Barnes hit a walk-off RBI single to left to propel the Eagles to a 2-1 win.

Game 2

• The nightcap was also a pitchers' duel between the Regents and Eagles. The two teams combined to allow just three runs over nine innings of play. 
• Rockford had a chance to take early lead in game two in the second inning. After back-to-back walks to start the inning, Lauren Zielinski knocked a single back up the middle to load the bases with two outs. However, the Eagles got the next batter to fly out to right to end the inning. 
• Benedictine then used a pair of singles and a stolen base in the bottom half of the inning to scratch across a run and take a 1-0 lead. 
• RU starting pitcher Rylee Klema really buckled down after surrendering the run in the second. Klema did not allow a run the rest of the game and had the Benedictine hitters guessing all day long
• The Rockford offense was finally able to get something going in the top of the sixth. Kariana Williams began things with a one-out single and then advanced to third one batter later on a Benedictine error. Williams would then score on an Enedy Perez sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1. 
• Both teams had excellent scoring opportunities in the eighth but came up empty. Rockford had the bases loaded after a walk and singles from Rylee Klema and Judah Ortiz. Unfortunately, Benedictine got the next batter out to end the threat. 
• In the bottom half of the inning, Benedictine had a runner on second with no one out. Fortunately, Rylee Klema retired three of the next four batters, as Benedictine stranded two, and the game remained tied at 1-1 after eight innings of play.
• The top of the ninth got off to an excellent start with Olivia Lysaght and Alexis Schuldt each singling to put runners on first and second with no one out. Following an infield fly and a fielder's choice, Rylee Klema delivered a clutch two-out RBI single into right to give the Regents their first lead of the game at 2-1.
• Rylee Klema then stepped into the circle and retired the side in order to secure the 2-1 win in nine innings.

Game 1

• Kariana Williams finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
• Emily Down went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. 
• Rylee Klema was 1-for-3 with a double.
• Mariah Martinez threw all 6.2 innings in the opener. She allowed just 2 runs and struck out 4 batters.

Game 2

• Rylee Klema pitched all nine innings to earn the win and improve to 5-2 inside the circle this season. Klema allowed just one run and struck out five batters. 
• Rylee Klema also finished 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the top of the ninth. 
• Alexis Schuldt was 2-for-4 with a walk.
• Kariana Williams and Olivia Lysaght each went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. 

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