LISLE, Ill. - The Regents softball team (15-13, 5-7 NACC) dropped the final two games of its regular season series against the Benedictine University Eagles (18-11, 9-3 NACC) on Sunday afternoon. The Regents fell 13-5 in the opener and then dropped game two by a final score of 7-1. However, both games were significantly closer than what the final scores might indicate. In game one, Rockford and Benedictine were tied 5-5 heading into the bottom of the fourth, before the Eagles exploded for 7 runs, to put the game out of reach. In game two, the Regents trailed just 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. This time the Eagles erupted for five runs to seal the win and secure the sweep.
Game 1
- Rockford had a chance to take an early lead in the top of the first inning. Gretchen Schrubbe began the game with a leadoff double, and two batters later, Emily Cox walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Unfortunately, the Regents stranded both runners, as the game went to the bottom of the first still tied at 0-0.
- The bottom half of the inning did not go well for Rockford. Benedictine scored four runs off four hits, including a leadoff home run by Taylor Skraba, to grab an early 4-0 lead.
- The Regents did answer with a single run of their own in the top of the second.
- Destiny Kelsey got things started with a one-out double to center. Two batters later, McCathran Andrew came through with a clutch two-out triple, to score Kelsey and make it a 4-1 game.
- However, Benedictine got that run right back in the bottom half of the inning, to reestablish its four-run lead.
- Rockford continued to chip away at the Eagle lead with three more runs in the top of the third. Annaka Bartz crushed a leadoff home run over the center field wall, to trim the Eagle advantage to 5-2. Following a walk and a couple of outs, Jocelyn Callahan laced an RBI single to center field, scoring Breanna Collins, to make it 5-3. After Callahan stole second, Destiny Kelsey ripped an RBI single of her own into center, as Rockford now trailed just 5-4.
- The Regents would then tie the game in the top of the fourth inning. McCathran Andrew and Gretchen Schrubbe began the inning with a double and a single, to put runners on first and third with no one out. Annaka Bartz then drove in Andrew on a sacrifice fly, knotting the game at 5-5.
- Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse in the bottom half of the inning. The Eagles struck for seven runs off seven hits and blew the game wide open.
- Benedictine added one final run in the fifth en route to a 13-5 win.
Game 2
- Game two remained scoreless until the bottom of the second inning. Benedictine used a trio of hits to score two runs and grab a quick 2-0 advantage.
- Rockford had a chance to chip away at the Eagle lead in the third. Following a walk, a bunt and a Gretchen Schrubbe single, the Regents had runners on the corners with only one out. However, the Eagles retired the next two batters to keep it a 2-0 game.
- The Regents were finally able to get on the board with a single run in the fourth. Breanna Collins and Mikayla Seay opened the inning with back-to-back singles, to put runners on first and second with no one out. Rockford then took advantage of an Eagle error to load the bases. One batter later, Rockford capitalized on a second Benedictine error to score a run and cut the Eagle lead in half. Unfortunately, that is all the runs the Regents were able to get in the inning, as the next batter flew out and the runner on third was called out for leaving early.
- The Regents had a chance to possibly tie the game or take the lead in the top of the fifth. Gretchen Schrubbe and Annaka Bartz strung together a single and a double, placing runners on second and third with only one out. Unfortunately, the next two batters flew out to end the scoring threat.
- The Eagles then took control of the game in the bottom of the inning. Benedictine scored five runs off five hits and took a commanding 7-1 lead.
- Rockford again had chances to score in the sixth and seventh innings but came up empty both times.
- In the sixth, the Regents had runners on first and second with no one out, but lined into a double play and then grounded out to end the inning.
- In the seventh, Rockford loaded the bases with one out off a Gretchen Schrubbe single, an Annaka Bartz double and a walk.
- Unfortunately, the Eagles retired the next two batters to once again wiggle out of the jam and secure the 7-1 win.
Game 1
Game 2
The RU softball team hits the road next Saturday, April 17 to face the Edgewood College Eagles. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon.
