VERONA, Wis. - The Rockford University softball team (14-16, 4-8 NACC) swept the Edgewood College Eagles (6-18, 0-12 NACC) 1-0 and 4-1 on Tuesday afternoon to earn the Regents first NACC road sweep since the 2012 season. Rockford won the opener 1-0 on the back of a dominant pitching performance from freshman Rylee Klema (Mendota, Ill.). The Regents then used a three-run first and another brilliant outing from Klema to complete the series sweep, with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
Rockford University 1 Edgewood College 0
- Rockford University starting pitcher Rylee Klema stole the show for the Regents in game one. Klema had the Eagle hitters off balance all game long, as Edgewood had just three runners reach second base the entire game. Klema was especially effective in the later innings, retiring 13 of the final 16 batters seal the win. The complete game shutout was Klema's first of her collegiate career.
- The Regents scored what turned out to be the game-winning run in the top of the third inning.
- Gretchen Schrubbe (Elgin, Ill.) and Annaka Bartz (Rockton, Ill.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no one out. After Emily Cox (Erie, Ill.) moved the runners to second and third, Dylan King (Constantine, Mich.) drove in the game's only run on a fielder's choice.
- The one run was more than enough, as the Regents picked up their first NACC road win of the season.
Rockford University 4 Edgewood College 1
- The Regents struck first in game two with a three-run opening inning.
- Gretchen Schrubbe, Annaka Bartz and Emily Cox loaded the bases with back-to-back-to-back singles to begin the game. Dylan King then drove her second run of the day, to put her team out in front 1-0. Three batters later, Sammi Russell (Winnebago, Ill.) came through with a huge two-out, two-run single into center field, to make it a 3-0 RU advantage.
- Edgewood was able to cut into the Regent lead with a single unearned run in the bottom of the second. The Eagles took advantage of two Regent errors to score their run and pull within two at 3-1.
- Rockford extended its lead back to three with a single run in the fifth. Gretchen Schrubbe and Annaka Bartz strung together back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with no one out. Two batters later, Dylan King drove in Schrubbe with a sacrifice fly to center field.
- Four runs of support was plenty for RU starting pitcher Rylee Klema. Klema fired her 21st complete game of the season, allowing just the one unearned run in the second inning. The freshman retired 18 of the final 21 batters, including 11 straight after Edgewood scored its only run of the day.
- The win gives Rockford its first road sweep over Edgewood since the two schools joined the NACC for the 2006 season.
Game 1
- Rylee Klema went all seven innings and threw the first complete game shutout of her collegiate career. The freshman allowed just three hits and struck out three.
- Gretchen Schrubbe was 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.
Game 2
The Rockford University softball team returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 20 at Lakeland University. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon.
