ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team (4-32, 0-20 NACC) faced off against the MSOE Raiders (23-11, 10-8 NACC) on Friday afternoon as RU celebrated senior day and honored Alex Storey (Dexter, Mich.) and Abigail Wellwood (Rockford, Ill.). MSOE showed how strong of a team it was it knocked off the Regents 14-4 in game one before winning game two by a final of 20-0.
In game one it was close during the first few innings as both teams were playing well defensively. Rockford allowed one run in the second and two runs in the third to give MSOE a 3-0 lead. MSOE finally found its bats as the Raiders went on to score six more runs in the top of the fourth to take a 9-0 lead.
Rockford did not go down without a fight as RU went on a run in the bottom of the fifth scoring all four of its runs. Sammi Russell (Winnebago, Ill.) was able to reach on an error to give Rockford a base runner and start some momentum. Two outs later, Linzy Keller (Rockford, Ill.) singled to left field to keep Rockford alive she gave the Regents runners on first and second with two outs. Emily Johannes (Eau Claire, Wis.) did well to load the bases as she drew a walk during her at bat, as Rockford headed into the top of its order. Gretchen Schrubbe (Elgin, Ill.) stepped to the plate and knocked an RBI single toward second base to put the Regents on the board. It was McCathran Andrew (Rockford, Ill.) coming in clutch as she smacked a single to left center good enough to bring in Keller and Johannes. Alex Storey kept the hits going as she laced a single to right field and bring home Schrubbe.
MSOE made sure the Regents could not gain any more momentum as the Raiders went on to score five runs in the top of the sixth to go on to take game one by a score of 14-4.
There were four Rockford players to record at least one hit in game one. Gretchen Schrubbe led the Regents as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. McCathran Andrew tallied 2 RBIs, while Alex Storey chalked up one of her own. Linzy Keller finished the game going 1-for-2 with a run scored.
In game two it again started out low scoring as the Raiders were only up 3-0 in the third inning. However, a monstrous fourth inning put Rockford away as MSOE exploded for 14 runs before scoring two more in the fifth to go on to win the game by a final score of 20-0.
The pitching for the Raiders did well to keep the Regents offense at bay, as Rockford only recorded two hits in game two.
Those Rockford players with hits were McCathran Andrew and Allison Kaiser as they both finished game two 1-for-2 at the plate. Andrew did well as her lone hit was good for a triple.
The Rockford University softball team finishes off NACC play as it travels to Concordia Wisconsin on Saturday, April 28. First pitch is set for noon.
