LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team (12-18, 4-12 NACC) earned a hard-fought split on senior day with the Lakeland University Muskies (14-11, 9-7 NACC). The opener was an outstanding pitcher's duel that saw just five total runs scored over nine innings of play. The Regents ultimately won the game 3-2 on a two-out, walk-off RBI double from
Candace Kipp. The nightcap was close until the fifth inning, when Lakeland scored four runs to seize control of game en route to a 12-5 victory.
Game 1
- Game one was a pitcher's duel between Rockford's Mariah Martinez and Lakeland's Makenna Hullinger. Martinez was simply sensational, as she had the Muskie hitters off balance nearly the entire game. She did not allow a run through six innings and retired eight of nine hitters heading into the seventh.
- The RU offense would stake Martinez to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the second. After two quick outs, Isabella Intravaia ripped a double into the left center field gap to put herself into scoring position. One batter later, Emily Down laced an RBI single into center, scoring Intravaia and giving the Regents a 1-0 lead.
- The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the sixth, when Rockford added another single run. Jocelyn Callahan got things started with a two-out bunt single and then stole second. Breanna Collins proceeded to rip an RBI single back up the middle, scoring Callahan and giving the Regents a 2-0 advantage heading into the seventh.
- Unfortunately, the Muskies singled to lead off the seventh and then Hannah Hornsby tied the game with a two-run home run over the left center field wall. However, the Regents were able to regroup and retire the next three batters to keep the score tied at 2-2.
- Following a scoreless eighth, Martinez again retired the Lakeland hitters in order in the top of the ninth, to give her team a chance to win the game in the bottom half of the inning.
- Olivia Swanson started the one-out rally with a double to deep right center field. A couple of batters later, catcher Candace Kipp ended the game with a walk-off, two-out, RBI ground-rule double to give Rockford a 3-2 win.
Game 2
- Lakeland took an early lead with one run off three hits in the top of the first inning.
- However, the Muskie lead did last long, as Rockford tied it in the bottom half of the frame. Emily Cox blasted her team-leading fifth home run of the season to knot the game at 1-1.
- The Regents then took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the second. Following two quick outs to start the frame, Emily Down smacked a solo home run over the left center field wall and gave Rockford a 2-1 lead.
- Unfortunately, the Muskies scored nine straight runs over the next three innings, including four runs in the fifth, to take a 10-2 lead and seize control of the game.
- However, Rockford was able to add a single run in the bottom of the fifth to extend the game. Elizabeth Thomas got the two-out rally started with a single down the left field line, and then Emily Cox walked to put runners on first and second. One batter later, Candace Kipp crushed a RBI double to right center, scoring Thomas, and making it a 10-3 ballgame.
- The Muskies struck for two more runs in the top of the seventh, before Rockford answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Elizabeth Thomas led off the inning with an infield single and then scored on an Emily Cox RBI double. The Regents would add one more run later in the inning off a Muskie error, but it was not enough, as Lakeland went on to win by a final score of 12-5.
Game 1
- Candace Kipp finished 1-for-5 with the game-winning RBI double.
- Breanna Collins was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Jocelyn Callahan went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
- Emily Down finished 1-for-4 with an RBI.
- Mariah Martinez threw all 9 innings to earn the win and move to 8-9 on the season. Martinez scattered 8 hits and allowed just 2 runs while striking out 3 and walking none.
- Elizabeth Thomas stole a base to tie the RU single-season stolen bases record (20).
Game 2
- Emily Cox finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, 2 RBIs and a run scored.
- Candace Kipp was 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, an RBI and a run scored.
- Elizabeth Thomas went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored.
- Emily Down was 1-for-1 with a home run and a walk.
