LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Mount Mary University softball team kicked off its Spring Break slate with a bang, battling Rockford in a wild double-header Monday night at RU's Mercyhealth Sportscore Two Complex. Despite finding great offense in the very blustery evening opener, the Blue Angels couldn't quite find that winning combination as they dropped both games against the host Regents, 13-12 and 11-1.
The losses move Mount Mary to 1-12 overall on the season, while Rockford improves to 10-2.
GAME 1: Rockford 13, MMU 12
Eight Blue Angel batters had a multi-hit game in a wild opener that saw lots of traffic on the base paths for both squads. MMU scored in five of the seven innings played to push out to a six-run lead, but a late Rockford flurry stole away the victory for the host Regents, 13-12.
MMU put the pressure on early with back-to-back walks issued to junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) and freshman Sam Allen (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows). A wild pitch and a grounder to third by freshman Marissa Heraly (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) scored Strusz, and back-to-back doubles by freshman Brianna Lupa (Plano, Ill./Plano) and sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge) put the Blue Angels up 3-0 after the first half.
Rockford cut into the deficit with a run in the bottom of the second before MMU responded right back in the top of the third. Junior Taylor Hienbuecher (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) ripped an RBI groundout to score Ecker, who had doubled earlier in the inning. The Regents would add two in their half of the third to make it 4-3 Blue Angels after three.
Junior Lauren Nylund (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led off with a single in the fourth, and with two outs Heraly send a deep shot to left center, scurrying to third and scoring Nylund. After a Rockford pitching change, Lupa blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence—the first homerun of her career.
After Rockford added a run in the home half of the fourth, sophomore Kaitlyn Gilpin (Lyons, Ill./Lyons Township) led off with a double, followed by a single by senior Hannah Harnsberger (Hillsboro, Ore./Jesuit). Some perfect small ball by Nylund loaded the bases, and Allen came through with a huge 2 RBI single through the left side. A misplay by the left fielder added another run for the Blue Angels, who surged to a 10-4 lead.
Another Gilpin double to center got things moving for Mount Mary in the sixth, and clutch hits from Hienbuecher and Harnsberger added two more runs to the Blue Angels offense, leading 12-6 in the middle of the sixth.
However, the six-run cushion would not be enough as the Regents rallied for seven runs off nine hits over the last two innings to snatch away the Game One victory.
Offensively, the Blue Angels recorded a season-high 17 hits, led by three from Gilpin and Lupa. Lupa also led with three RBI, with Allen, Heraly, and Heinbuecher each recording two apiece.
Lupa took her sixth loss in the circle, giving up 18 hits and 11 earned runs in incredibly difficult weather conditions for both teams' hurlers. She did, however, record a season-high seven strikeouts in her seventh complete game of the season.
GAME 2: Rockford 11, MMU 1 (5 Innings)
The nightcap was not quite as wild for the Blue Angels, as Rockford used a seven-run fourth inning to seal up an 11-1, five inning victory. Mount Mary was limited to just two hits and four total baserunners in the Game Two loss.
Both Blue Angel hits came from Allen and Harnsberger in the top of the third inning. Harnsberger led off with a single and was moved around thanks to a sacrifice from Nylund. Allen then rocketed a triple to deep right center to score the senior from third and push her hit streak to 11 straight games.
Gilpin stepped into the circle for game two, striking out three while giving up eight earned runs off 11 hits.
Defensively, Mount Mary recorded seven defensive errors on the day, leading to five unearned Regent scores.
ON DECK FOR MMU
Mount Mary will return to action Thursday, traveling to Lisle, Ill., for an afternoon double-header against Benedictine. First pitch at the Eagles' Softball Complex is slated for 3 p.m.
