ROCKFORD, Ill. – The MSOE softball team scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning to earn a doubleheader split with Rockford Saturday at Smith Athletic Field.

The Raiders (10-8, 2-4 NACC) dropped the first game on a walk-off single in the seventh inning, 2-1, before dropping the host Regents (5-12, 1-4 NACC) 9-4 in game two.

Freshman Sara McConnell (6-3) got the decision in both games. She struck out 16 batters and walked one over 14.2 innings of work. She allowed four runs, but just one was earned. She scattered 12 hits on the day.

MSOE pounded out 15 hits in game two, led by McConnell's 4-for-5 effort at the plate. Freshman Danielle Walsh had three hits, while McConnell and senior Julie Windish drove in two runs apiece.

The Regents scored an unearned run with two outs in the seventh inning to tie the game at 4-4 and force extra innings.

In the eighth inning, two runs scored on a Rockford error. Then, Smith drove in a run on a sacrifice bunt. Windish followed with an RBI double and came around to score two batters later on a single by sophomore Lauren Boyle.

McConnell then closed out the victory, retiring the side in order in the bottom half of the inning.

The first game was scoreless through six innings as McConnell and RU's Sarah Moritz were locked in a pitcher's duel. McConnell struck out 12, walked one and scattered four hits. Moritz yielded five runs, an earned run and struck out five.

In the final inning, the Raiders struck first. Walsh led off with a single and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Callie Wightman followed with a double. Moritz then retired the final two batters to escape any more damage.

Rockford responded in the bottom half of the inning, starting with a one-out single. An error put runners on second and third with two outs. Lisa Blakely-Snyder then followed with a two-run single to end the game.

MSOE returns to action Sunday, hosting Edgewood in a doubleheader at MSOE Athletic Field.