ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team fell 9-3 and 6-4 in extra innings on Sunday to the Concordia University Chicago Cougars. Game one was tight through the early stages, with CUC holding a slight 4-3 lead through four innings. Unfortunately, The Cougars then scored five runs over the fifth and sixth innings to ultimately take control of the game and eventually win game one by a final score of 9-3. Game two was a completely different story as both pitching staffs kept both offenses in check through the early stages. Despite this, the Cougars eventually led 4-1 in the seventh inning and Rockford down to its final three outs, rallied down three to come back and tie the game and force extras. RU starting pitcher
Kariana Williams also tied a school record, tying the single-game record for innings pitched with 10. Unfortunately, despite this, the Cougars were able to plate two runs in the top of the tenth and although the Regents battled again, CUC was able to hang on for the 6-4 win in game two to give them the sweep over Rockford.
Game 1
- The Cougars struck early as they scored two runs in the top of the first. CUC began the game with a leadoff triple that came around to score on an RU error and CUC followed that up with an RBI double to take an early 2-0 lead.
- The Regents threatened to cut into the early lead in the bottom of the first, getting runners on second and third with one out. Unfortunately, the Cougars were able to escape the threat, keeping the Regents scoreless.
- Rockford pushed itself in front with a three-run bottom of the second. After Makayla Howard walked and Bella Lima singled with one out, Jocelyn Callahan bashed a two-run triple to tie the game. The Regents took the lead on an RBI double by Chayton Krueger down the left field line to take a 3-2 lead.
- CUC responded with two more runs in the top of the third, scoring their first run on an RU error and second on an RBI double to take a 4-3 lead.
- The Cougars took control of the game with five runs scored between the fifth and sixth innings. CUC scored three in the fifth on just two hits and scored two in the sixth on five hits to take a commanding 9-3 lead.
- Past the third inning for Rockford, the Regent offense struggled to get anything going and was held scoreless by the CUC pitching staff the rest of the way through. This ultimately allowed the Cougars to hang on and take game one by a final score of 9-3.
Game 2
- Game two was a completely different story than game one as both teams were held scoreless over the first 3.5 innings thanks to some stellar pitching from Rockford's Kariana Williams and CUC's Alyssa Lopez.
- Rockford finally broke that scoreless tie with a single run in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a walk by Michaela Froehlich and a single by Mia Cosentino with two outs, Kariana Williams delivered an RBI ground-rule double to put the Regents in front 1-0.
- Unfortunately, the Cougars battled back with two runs in the top of the fifth. CUC tallied three hits in the inning and took advantage of an RU error to take a 3-2 lead.
- CUC added to its lead with a run scored in both the sixth and seventh innings to take a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
- The Regents down to their final three outs, got a leadoff single by Mia Consentino, who later came around to score on an RBI double by Sophia Hulsey to make it just a 4-2 game. With Rockford now down to its final out, Mackenzie Schwartz reached on a CUC error that put runners on the corners and Chayton Krueger came through with a massive game-tying two-run triple to make it 4-4.
- Rockford did have a chance to win in the bottom of the seventh with the winning run on third, but the Cougars were able to secure the final out of the inning to force extra innings.
- Both teams were locked in a deadlock to begin extras as starting pitcher Kariana Williams remained in the game for Rockford and kept the Cougar bats quiet over the first two innings of extra innings.
- Unfortunately, CUC was finally able to break through in the top of the tenth inning thanks to a go-ahead two-run double by CUC's Arissa Santos to give the Cougars a 6-4 lead.
- The Regents again continued to fight, putting the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the tenth with just one out. Unfortunately, the Cougars were able to record the final two outs in order to secure the 6-4 victory in 10 innings and the sweep over Rockford.
Game 1
Game 2
- Kariana Williams tied the program record for innings pitched in a single game, firing 10.0 innings and picking up 6 strikeouts. At the plate, she finished 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
- Mia Consentino finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- Chayton Krueger was 1-for-5 with a triple and 2 RBIs
