LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team defeated Alverno College in a pair of tight games on Saturday afternoon. Game one had the Regents out in front the entire way, up 3-2 and later adding two insurance runs, winning 5-2.
Kariana Williams delivered an offensive explosion, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and 3 RBIs. Game two was a very close contest that had the Inferno in the driver's seat for most of the game. Down by 3 runs in the seventh, the Regents stormed back to tie the game and scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning to win the nightcap 6-5.
Rockford 5 Alverno 2
- The Regents led off the game in front, capitalizing on a double by Bella Lima and Kariana Williams driving her in with a triple. With a pair of runners in scoring position to end the inning, Rockford couldn't convert, having to settle for a 1-0 lead.
- The Regents continued to keep the offense rolling when Kariana Williams doubled with two outs to score Jennifer Ruesch and Michaela Froehlich. Williams was thrown out trying to stretch the play, but the runs counted, extending the lead to 3-0.
- Alverno broke the shutout with a quick homer in the top of the fourth. The Inferno added another run on a double that scored a runner from second, cutting the Rockford lead down to 3-2.
- Candace Kipp delivered a much-needed insurance run in the fifth inning. She sent a single to the center fielder, who misplayed the ball, and allowed Kariana Williams to score on the play from second and build a 4-2 advantage.
- Rockford added one more run in the sixth when Lauren Zielinski made it home after the double she hit earlier.
- Alverno simply had no answer other than the two earlier runs. Solid pitching from Mariah Martinez and Rylee Klema shut down the Inferno offense and delivered the win in the opener with a final score of 5-2.
Rockford 6 Alverno 5
- Alverno went out in front to start the night cap, scoring the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly.
- Another run didn't come until the top of the third when a sacrifice bunt scored the second run of the game for the Inferno.
- The Regents broke through in the fourth inning. A bases loaded single by Michaela Froehlich scored Jocelyn Callahan from third. Another single through the left side by Olivia Lysaght brought in Emily Down to even the score at 2-2.
- Alverno recorded the third out right after, keeping RU from taking the lead.
- Rockford took the lead the next inning when a single from Kariana Williams turned into a run thanks to Williams advancing on a wild pitch, tagging up from second to third, and again running on a wild pitch to score. RU led 3-2.
- Alverno got the offense moving again in the sixth inning. With runners on second and third, the Inferno knocked a single to score both runners and jump into a 4-3 lead.
- The Inferno added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to go up 5-3 with Rockford having one half inning left to tie or win.
- Candace Kipp led off the scoring for the Regents as they tried to claw back, hitting a triple and scoring on a wild pitch to pull the game to 5-4. A wild pitch later in the inning with two runners on base put them on second and third with only one out. A sacrifice bunt by Lauren Zielinski scored Jocelyn Callahan from third and tied the game at 5-5. A foul ball caught by the Inferno ruined the chance to win, sending the game into extras.
- After a quiet eighth from Alverno brought the Regents back up to bat. Bella Lima got around to third, and Kariana Williams got to first on a pair of defensive miscues, leading to the eventual wild pitch that brought Bella Lima home to score and win the Regents the game 6-5.
Game 1
Game 2
