BELOIT, WIs. - Playing their first home games of the 2023 season, Beloit's softball team ended Tuesday with a doubleheader split against nearby Rockford University. Rockford narrowly won the first game by a 3-2 score, as they held off a late charge by the Buccaneers, who won game two by a score of 11-9.

In the day's first game, all three of Rockford's runs came in the top of the first, scoring on a groundout, an RBI double, and a wild pitch. Beloit (2-10) would put together a late rally, getting on the board on an RBI single by Kaylee Witte in the sixth, which saw Beloit record four hits. Isabel Johnson would later drive in another run on a single to left center to cut the lead to one, but the Buccaneers left two runners on base that inning, while also leaving two stranded in the seventh as the final out was recorded.

All seven of Beloit's hits were singles. G Calderon led the Buccaneers with two base knocks, while she and Maddie Moser scored the team's two runs. Samantha Friedrichsohn allowed three runs and struck out a pair in six innings of work, while Cora Aubert pitched a perfect inning of relief.

Rockford (5-5) recorded 10 hits in the game, with three players recording two apiece, and four of those 10 hits going for doubles. Maria Martinez allowed two runs on six hits through 5.2 innings for the Regents.

In the nightcap, Rockford struck first again in the first, scoring on a wild pitch, before adding a two-run double and an RBI single in the third. Beloit then exploded for eight runs on seven hits in the bottom of the third, starting their rally with an RBI single to center off the bat of Briana Arteaga. Moser then singled in another run with a single to center, before two more runs crossed the plate on an error to tie the score at four. The Buccaneers took their first lead of the day later in the inning when Johnson drove in Moser with a single. Angela Donath and Aubert each added an RBI in the inning, before Aubert stole home to end the inning and give Beloit an 8-4 advantage.

After Rockford closed the gap with a three-run fourth, Beloit got all of those runs back in the bottom of that frame on one swing of the bat, as Witte connected on her second home run of the season, a three-run shot over the left field wall. Rockford scored twice in the ninth to make it interesting, but Beloit would get out of the inning with the potential tying run at the plate.

Beloit finished with 12 hits, with Aubert's 3-for-3 performance leading the way. Moser and Johnson each added two hits, while Witte drove in four runs. Aubert (1-3) also earned the win, allowing five earned runs in 6.2 innings.

Rockford tallied 11 hits, with three players recorded two apiece.

The Buccaneers will be in action again on Saturday when they are scheduled to play a doubleheader against Alverno College, beginning at Noon. Those games will be played at Strong Complex Softball Field in Beloit, Wis.