BELOIT, Wis. - The Rockford University softball team swept Beloit College 10-1 and 8-4 on Friday afternoon to extend its winning streak to six games. In game one, Rockford took control following a six-run fourth inning, and starting pitcher
Bella Lima was once again dominant inside the circle. Lima tossed her second straight complete game and allowed just one run while striking out six. Game two was much more competitive. Although the Regents jumped out to a 5-0 lead, Beloit was able to get back to within a single run before Rockford put the game out of reach with a three-run sixth. Rockford never trailed in either game and has not trailed in any game over its six-game winning streak.
Game 1
- Rockford scored in the first inning for the fifth straight game.
- Jocelyn Callahan led off the game with a double and then stole third base to put herself in scoring position with no one out.
- Kariana Williams then drove in Callahan on a fielder's choice to give Rockford a 1-0 lead.
- The score remained the same until the Regents tacked on two more runs in the top of the third. Bella Lima and Kariana Williams began the frame with a double and a single to put a pair of runners on with no one out. Neelah Vandeberg drove in the first run of inning on a sacrifice fly, and then Chayton Krueger made it 3-0 on an RBI single down the left field line.
- Beloit was able to score a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 3-1 game.
- Fortunately, Rockford blew the game wide open with a six-run fourth. The Regents sent 11 batters to plate and had eight hits in the inning. Bella Lima got the scoring started with a one-out RBI triple. Neelah Vandeberg, Tomi Hill and Makayla Howard each had RBI doubles, while Kariana Williams and Alexis Schuldt both singled in a run to give the Regents a 9-1 lead heading into the fifth.
- The Regents tacked on one final insurance run in the fifth. Rockford had a pair of hits in the frame, including an RBI double by Sophia Hulsey.
- Ten runs were more than enough for RU starting pitcher Bella Lima, as she surrendered just four hits and one run in the game. Lima also struck out at least one batter in every inning except one en route to an easy 10-1 win in five innings.
Game 2
- Rockford again scored in the top of the first inning to take an early lead.
- Neelah Vandeberg belted her first home run as a Regent, a two-run shot to left, to put Rockford out in front 2-0.
- Rockford then tacked on three more runs in the top of the second. Nicole Paris drove in the first run off an RBI double, Jocelyn Callahan followed with an RBI single and Kariana Williams laced an RBI single back up the middle to make it 5-0.
- However, the Bucs responded with a pair of runs off four hits in the bottom of the second to cut the RU lead down to three at 5-2.
- Following an uneventful third and top of the fourth, Beloit made it just a one-run game in the bottom of the fourth. Beloit strung together a trio of hits, including an RBI triple, to chop the deficit to one at 5-4.
- Fortunately, Rockford was able to get themselves a little bit of breathing room with three runs in the top of the sixth. Chayton Krueger led off the frame with a triple, and then scored on a Jocelyn Callahan RBI single. The Regents added two more runs on a sacrifice fly by Bella Lima and a Buc error to extend their lead to 8-4.
- RU starting pitcher Kariana Williams took it from there. Williams retired the Bucs in order over the final two innings to seal the 8-4 win and the series sweep.
Game 1
- Bella Lima tossed a complete game to earn the win inside the circle and improve to 4-1 this season. She scattered four hits and allowed just one run while striking out six batters. Lima has now allowed only one earned run over her last 23 innings pitched.
- Bella Lima also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a triple, 2 runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
- Kariana Williams finished 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs.
- Chayton Krueger was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Tomi Hill went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Game 2
- Jocelyn Callahan went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
- Chayton Krueger finished 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored and belted a pair of triples to tie the RU single-game triples record.
- Neelah Vandeberg was 1-for-4 with a 2-run home run.
- Kariana Williams earned the win and improved to 4-1 inside the circle. She fired all 7 innings, allowing 4 runs and striking out 5 batters.
