ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team fell in game one 5-0, but won game two 4-3 against the Edgewood College Eagles Saturday afternoon. The opener was scoreless through three innings, but the Edgewood offense eventually came to life, scoring two in the fourth and three in the sixth. Rockford's offense also struggled to get things going all game, ultimately allowing the Eagles to hold on for the 5-0 win in game one. In game two, Rockford grabbed an early 3-1 lead and held onto that until the Eagles eventually tied the game in the sixth. Fortunately, Rockford regained the lead right away as
Kariana Williams delivered the go-ahead knock in the sixth and then recorded the final three outs in the circle to secure the 4-3 win in game two and force the split with Edgewood.
Game 1: Edgewood 5 Rockford 0
- Both offenses were held scoreless over the first three innings of play, by some good starting pitching from Rockford's Bella Lima and Edgewood's Lauren Prigge.
- Edgewood finally broke the scoreless tie with two unearned runs scored in the top of the 4th to give them a 2-0 lead.
- The Regent offense was held in check by the pitching of Edgewood's Lauren Prigge, who only allowed three hits to Rockford throughout whole game.
- The Eagles added onto their lead with a three-run top of the sixth. Edgewood scored its first run on an RBI single and its second on a Rockford error to extend its lead to 5-0.
- Rockford never really found its rhythm on offense in this game and Edgewood eventually recorded the final three outs of the game to secure the 5-0 victory in game one.
Game 2: Rockford 4 Edgewood 3
- After a perfect top of the first by Rockford starting pitcher Kariana Williams, the Regents struck in their half of the first with a single run.
- Jocelyn Callahan led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second, moved to third on a Kariana Williams single and Callahan came around to score on an RBI single by Michaela Froehlich up the middle to give the Regents an early 1-0 advantage.
- The Eagles quickly tied the game with an unearned run scored in the top of the second.
- The Regents eventually retook the lead in the bottom of the third with two runs on two hits. After Michaela Froehlich and Chayton Krueger led off the inning with back-to-back singles, they both eventually came around to score on an Eagle error to give RU a 3-1 lead.
- The score remained unchanged until the top of the sixth inning. Unfortunately, Edgewood was able to equalize the game thanks to a two-run home run from Grace Ott to make it 3-3.
- Fortunately, Rockford battled right back to scratch one run across in the bottom of the sixth. After a one-out single by Bella Lima, Kariana Williams drove her in with an RBI double that split the right-center gap to give RU the late 4-3 lead.
- RU starting pitcher Kariana Williams was able to retire the Eagles in order in the top of the 7th to secure the complete game and 4-3 victory for Rockford.
Game 1
- Bella Lima fired a solid 5.2 innings of work in the circle, allowing 2 earned runs and racking up 3 strikeouts on the afternoon.
- Claire Shanahan fired 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Game 2
- Kariana Williams picked up her 5th win of the season in the circle and fired a gutsy 7.0 innings, allowing 2 earned runs and picking up 4 punchouts. At the plate, she was 2-for-4 with a go-ahead RBI double.
- Michaela Froehlich went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored.
- Chayton Krueger was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
