ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team dropped a pair of games Friday afternoon to the Benedictine University Eagles. In the opener, the Regents struggled to get much of anything going offensively, being held to just two hits for the game. However, the nightcap was a different story as both starting pitchers dueled throughout the first five innings of play. Unfortunately, Benedictine was finally able to break through for five runs in the late innings to take control of the game and eventually hang on for the win. The Eagles went on to win game one 5-0 and game two 5-1 to secure the sweep over the Regents.
Game 1
- Rockford had an opportunity to take an early lead in the bottom of the second with back-to-back one-out singles by Lauren Zielinski and Payton Willenkamp, but the Eagles were able to get out of the inning unscathed to keep the game scoreless.
- The Eagles were able to scratch an unearned run across in the third to take a 1-0 lead.
- Benedictine added to its lead in the next inning with three runs on three hits. The Eagles scored two of their runs on a Regent error and one on an RBI groundout to make it a 4-0 game.
- The Eagles added one more run in the top of the seventh on a Rockford error to take a 5-0 lead.
- Unfortunately, the Rockford offense was held in check for the entire game by Benedictine's Mckenzie Johnson. She held the Regents to just two hits on the game, eventually recording the final three outs to secure the 5-0 win for the Eagles in game one.
Game 2
- Rockford's Kariana Williams and Benedictine's Morgan Magnabosco were absolutely rolling in the circle to start the game.
- The pair scattered just two hits, while racking up eight strikeouts between the two of them over the first five innings of play.
- Unfortunately, the Eagles finally broke through in the top of the sixth after two walks in the inning came around to score on wild pitches to give Benedictine a 2-0 lead.
- Rockford did respond with a single run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Eagle lead in half.
- After Jocelyn Callahan singled to lead off the inning, Alexis Schuldt got her to third with a single and an Eagle error. Kariana Williams then drove in Callahan with an RBI groundout to make it a 2-1 game.
- The Eagles struck again in the seventh with three runs on four hits to take a commanding 5-1 lead, with just three outs left for the Regent offense.
- The Regents were able to get two base runners in the bottom of the seventh, but that was it as the Eagles were eventually able to record the final three outs to secure the 5-1 victory and the sweep over Rockford.
Game 1
Game 2
