MADISON – The Edgewood College Eagles opened their Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) slate with a home doubleheader Sunday afternoon. They hosted the Rockford Regents at Robert Goodman Softball Field. The Eagles (11-7) won a marathon 4-3 affair in 12 innings, before the Regents (8-6) came in clutch in the top of the seventh in game two with a 6-5 victory.

GAME ONE: EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 4, ROCKFORD 3 (12 INNINGS)
- The Eagles struck first in the second frame with a Natalie Fields RBI fly out to left field to bring in an unearned run.

- The Regents sent home a leadoff walk in the fifth with a triple to center field, before a single to first gave them a one-run edge. Errors helped a Grace Ott single tie up the game at 2-2.

- The offenses sputtered with runners in scoring position as the game dragged into five extra innings. Rockford broke through in the top of the 12th with a triple to right center. The Regents seemed poised to tack on another run, but a pop out to the shortstop turned into a double play.

- Olivia Hebert came through when the Eagles needed it in the bottom of the 12th. A home run off the foul poll in left field sent home Natalie Fields to open NACC play with a victory for Edgewood College.

- Gaby Slater and Tatum Duff both threw six innings in the grinding affair. Slater came home with the victory, while the tandem combined to fan nine Rockford batters.

- Hebert swung five-of-seven with two RBIs and a run. Jenna Sanchez hit four-of-six with a pair of runs, while Fields connected on three-of-five appearances at the plate.

GAME TWO: ROCKFORD 6, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 5
- Both pitchers had rocky starts to the second tilt. A double to right center sent home two walked batters for the Regents in the top of the first. Errors propelled a five-run first for the Eagles. With two outs, a Sanchez triple sent home a run, while an error brought in Sanchez on the play. A Slater single coupled with an error by the center fielder brought in two more. A single to shortstop by Fields sent in Slater to finish out the scoring.

- The Regents settled down with a pitching change, while their bats chipped away at the hole in the third. A double to right center sent in the first of three runs in the third, while a triple to left put them within one. A grounder to second tied up things at 5-5 after three.

- Neither team would get a runner past first in the next two innings. The Regents posted a leadoff double in the sixth but were unable to capitalize on it. Rockford would not be denied in the top of the seventh. Errors gave them another leadoff runner on second, while a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs. A single through the right side put them in position to win.

- A lead-off double by Hebert gave Edgewood College a fighting chance in the seventh. A fly out and a strikeout put them at two outs. A Sanchez single to short put her on safely, but Hebert would be thrown out at third to end the game.

- Mariah Martinez threw a scoreless five innings for the Regents, allowing only four hits. Rylee Klema took advantage of the save opportunity, shutting down the game in the last inning.

- Fields was a reliable presence in the Eagles order, swinging three-of-three with an RBI. Sanchez hit two-of-four with a run and an RBI.

- Elizabeth Malarski earned the loss in relief, throwing three innings of one-run ball while allowing only three hits.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The game was played at Robert D. Goodman Field at MATC due to field conditions.

- The Eagles lead the series 27-18. The loss in the second game snapped a three-game winning streak against Rockford.

- Hebert's home run was her fourth of the year. She also leads all qualifying Edgewood College batters with a .443 average.

UP NEXT
- The Eagles take continue their Northern Collegiate Athletic Conference (NACC) slate with a doubleheader at Concordia Wisconsin. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Monday. Edgewood College holds the series lead 36-34, but the Falcons have won nine straight.