ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team swept a pair of games over the Alverno College Inferno, winning game one in five innings 11-1 and game two 8-2. Rockford bashed its way to 11 runs over the first three innings in game one en route to the convincing 11-1 victory. In the nightcap, there was a bit of a slower start, but a five-run fourth eventually propelled the Regents to victory to secure the 8-2 win in game two and the sweep over Alverno. With the sweep, Rockford pushes its win streak over Alverno to six games.
Game 1
- After a scoreless top of the first by RU starting pitcher Bella Lima, The Regents struck first for three in the bottom of the first.
- Chayton Krueger and Olivia Lysaght executed a double steal to perfection to score Krueger for the first run of the inning. Kariana Williams then followed that up with an RBI single and Bella Lima drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it an early 3-0 lead for Rockford.
- The Regents added to that with two more runs in the second. After Jocelyn Callahan and Chayton Krueger drew back-to-back walks, Olivia Lysaght and Kariana Williams delivered back-to-back RBI singles to make it a 5-0 game.
- The scoring frenzy continued for Rockford as they scored six more in the third.
- Payton Willenkamp scored the first run on a wild pitch and after the Regents loaded the bases, Chayton Krueger delivered an RBI single and Olivia Lysaght cleared the bases with a three-run double to make it 10-0 Rockford.
- Four batters later, Payton Willenkamp drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI single to make it 11-0.
- RU starting pitcher Bella Lima continued to hold the Inferno at bay, scattering just three hits over her four innings of work.
- Neelah Vandeberg then came in to record the final three outs for Rockford, giving up a single unearned run in the fifth, but eventually retiring the Inferno to secure the 11-1 win in game one in five innings.
Game 2
- Rockford struck first again in game two this time in the bottom of the second. After Bella Lima led off with a triple, Makenzie Keever drove her in one batter later with an RBI groundout to make it an early 1-0 lead.
- The Inferno responded with a single run in the top of the third scored on an RU error to tie the game up at 1-1.
- Rockford was able to grab the lead back in the bottom of the fourth with a big five-run inning on six hits. After a one-out single and steal by Bella Lima, Judah Ortiz drove her in with an RBI single and Makenzie Keever drove in Ortiz with an RBI double.
- The Regents scored their final three runs of the inning on a two-run double by Sophia Hulsey and an RBI groundout by Jocelyn Callahan to make it 6-1 Rockford.
- Rockford added to that with a leadoff triple by Kariana Williams who scored on an Inferno error to make it a 7-1 game.
- The Regents scored their final run of the day on back-to-back Inferno errors to take an 8-1 lead.
- RU starting pitcher Kariana Williams went the distance for the Regents, sacrificing another run in the seventh, but eventually recording the final three outs to secure the 8-2 victory.
Game 1
- Olivia Lysaght slashed 2-for-2 with a double, a career-high 4 RBIs, a stolen base and a walk.
- Chayton Krueger finished 2-for-2 with a triple, 3 runs, an RBI, a stolen base and a walk.
- Kariana Williams went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs, a stolen base and a run.
- Bella Lima picked up her 9th win of the season, with 4.0 shutout innings, scattering just three hits and racking up 1 strikeout on the afternoon.
Game 2
- Bella Lima finished 3-for-3 and was just a homer shy of the cycle, also recording a stolen base and 2 runs.
- Chayton Krueger went 2-for-4 with a triple.
- Makenzie Keever finished 1-for-3 with a double and 2 RBIs
- Kariana Williams picked up her 9th win of the season, going the distance for Rockford and sacrificing 6 hits and no earned runs, while racking up 4 strikeouts. At the plate, she went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.
