ROCKFORD, Ill. - In a tale of two games, the Elmhurst University softball team endured a tough start but bounced back in a big way to split its doubleheader against Rockford on Wednesday afternoon.
After being shut out in a five-inning opener, the Bluejays responded with a dominant 9-0 win in the second game, powered by standout performances from
Danielle Hood at the plate and
Emma Lenczewski in the circle.
Elmhurst struggled to find offensive rhythm in the opener, falling 8-0 to Rockford in a game shortened by run-rule. Though the Bluejays managed six hits, they couldn't break through against Rockford's Brianna Lima, who scattered those hits across five scoreless innings while striking out two. Danielle Hood led the Bluejays offensively with a 3-for-3 performance, including a double, while Clara Rice, Josie Waite, and Ali Mockenhaupt each added singles. Defensively, Elmhurst committed one error, and the pitching duo of Kylie Hoyh and Chiara O'Leary combined to allow eight runs—six earned—on nine hits.
Rockford set the tone early with a first-inning RBI single from K. Williams, then broke the game open with a four-run second inning. RBI hits from S. Hulsey and C. Krueger, along with a sacrifice fly by O. Lysaght and a ground-rule double by Williams, pushed the Regents to a 5-0 lead. In the fourth, P. Willenkam delivered the knockout blow with a three-run double, sealing the 8-0 win.
Danielle Hood went 3-for-3 with a double, accounting for half of Elmhurst's hits. Ali Mockenhaupt, Clara Rice, and Josie Waite each added a hit, while Bella Swift drew the team's only walk. Despite the loss, the Bluejays showed moments of contact hitting, but couldn't string hits together to drive in runs.
Game two told a completely different story. Elmhurst rebounded with energy and execution on both sides of the ball, cruising to a 9-0 shutout behind a masterful complete-game performance from Lenczewski, who allowed just four hits and struck out eight over seven innings. The Bluejays' offense exploded for 12 hits, led once again by Danielle Hood, who went 3-for-3 with four RBIs, including a towering three-run homer in the fifth.
Elmhurst opened the scoring in the top of the first when Hood doubled down the left field line to score Bailey Proffitt. In the second, the Bluejays kept the pressure on as Lenczewski helped her own cause with a two-run double, driving in Josie Waite and Clara Rice to stretch the lead to 3-0. After a couple of quiet innings, Elmhurst erupted in the fifth. Hood crushed a three-run homer—her first of the season—bringing home Proffitt and Kaylee Aimone to break the game wide open at 6-0.
The offense wasn't done yet. In the seventh, Clara Rice tripled to right center, scoring Mockenhaupt and Hood, and then came around to score herself on a groundout by Grace Hayes, putting the exclamation point on the shutout victory. The defense was spotless, and the pitching dominant, as the Bluejays earned their sixth win of the season.
Danielle Hood starred with three hits, including a double and a home run, driving in four runs and scoring twice. Clara Rice went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a triple, while Bailey Proffitt also collected two hits, scored twice, and stole two bases. Lenczewski not only shut down the Regents in the circle, but also went 1-for-3 with a two-run double at the plate. Josie Waite added a multi-hit game with two singles and a run scored.
FOLLOW THE BLUEJAYS
Be sure to keep up with all Elmhurst University Athletics content by following the Bluejays on Twitter (@elmhurstbluejay), Facebook (Elmhurst University Athletics) and Instagram (@elmhurstbluejays), and tune in to elmhurstbluejays.com for the latest news and information.
