ROCKFORD, Ill.- The Rockford University softball team returned to action Tuesday to take on Mount Mary University to try and snap their skid. The Regents did just that earning a victory in the first game of the doubleheader by the final of 5-1, however fell in the second by the final of 10-2.
Taking the bump for game one was Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.) and she was excellent for the Regents. Kenworthy threw a complete game allowing 1 run on 5 hits and striking out 5. She did a great job of keeping the batters off balance allowing only two extra-base hits and only four baserunners to get into scoring position throughout the game. With the victory, she now owns both the victories for Rockford on the season. She also boasts a team-high nine complete games.
Offensively, Rockford strung together enough hits to scratch across some runs scoring the five runs on only five hits. The Regents struck first by immediately scoring in the first inning when Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.) ripped a two-out RBI single up the middle to drive in Caitlin Eiben (Racine, Wis.) from second base. Rockford saw their next scoring opportunity come in the third inning when they took advantage of three walks and a Mount Mary error. Alex Storey (Dexter, Mich.) put the ball in play which scored both Shannon LeGath (Sturtevant Wis.) and Mercedes Boykin (Belvidere, Ill.) to increase their lead to 3-0. After the Blue Angels scored a run, Rockford responded in the following inning when Eiben hit a double to left field with one out. After a fly out, Eiben attempted to steal third and came all the way around to score on a throwing error by the catcher. The Regents scored their final run when LeGath hit a single to right field to drive in Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) from third base to increase the lead to 5-1. Ultimately, the score remained the same as Rockford won by the final of 5-1.
Toeing the rubber for game two was Abigail Wellwood (Rockford, Ill.) who threw pretty well for the Regents for the first six innings before running into some trouble in the final inning. She had only allowed four runs prior to the final inning when Mount Mary brought in six runs to increase their lead to 10-2. Wellwood completed all 7 innings allowing 7 earned runs.
After falling behind 2-0 after the first inning Rockford narrowed the deficit in the second inning when Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) smoked a single into right field to drive in Lynn Blakeley-Snyder to make the score 2-1. After Mount Mary responded with another run to push the lead to two runs, Rockford once again added a run as Lynn Blakeley-Snyder drove a pitch through the right side of the infield to bring in Kenworthy. Unfortunately, the Regents could not put together any more runs as they fell by the final of 10-2.
Playing well for Rockford was Lynn Blakeley-Snyder who went 3-for-6 including a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored. Eiben went 4-for-6 with a double and two runs scored. LeGath added two hits including an RBI single.
The Rockford University softball team returns to action Wednesday, April 20 to take on Wisconsin Lutheran College in Wauwatosa, Wis. with a scheduled start time of 3 p.m.
