Box Score
Box score
ROCKFORD, Ill. - The WLC softball team overcame
a six-run deficit to tie the game in the fifth inning, but Rockford
College loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh
and scored the winning run on a wild pitch to defeat the Warriors
10-9 on Wednesday in the first game of a NAC doubleheader at Smith
Athletic Field.
Things looked good early for the Warriors as they scored two
runs in their half of the first inning. Sophomore Morgan Dittmar
(Oostburg, Wis./Manitowoc Lutheran) doubled home fellow sophomore
Maggie Mueller (Campbellsport, Wis./Campbellsport) with two outs
and freshman Lauren Mantz (West Bend, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran)
followed by safely reaching on a fielding error that scored
Dittmar.
However, the Regents benefited from a pair of errors and used
two hits to score four runs of their own in the bottom of the
inning. Three of RC's runs were unearned.
Following a scoreless second, WLC closed the gap to 4-3 when
Mantz drove home Mueller with an RBI single. The Warriors had the
bases loaded with just one out, but back-to-back fielder's choice
putouts helped Rockford escape the inning with no further damage.
RC got its run back in the bottom of the third on a two-out RBI
double by Nicole Lawler for a 5-3 lead.
After holding the Warriors scoreless in the fourth, Rockford
scored four runs, all after two outs, on four hits to jump out to a
9-3 lead. Jackie Vensel and Aletha Cunningham each had two-run
singles in the frame for the Regents.
Wisconsin Lutheran began the fifth inning with its first five
batters reaching base and sent six runs across the plate on five
hits to tie the score at 9-9. Mantz, junior Katie Sloan (Omaha,
Neb./Nebraska Lutheran), freshman Kayla Peterson (Lewiston,
Minn./Lewiston-Altura), junior Laura Konop (Germantown,
Wis./Germantown) and senior Jenny Boelk (Fond du Lac,
Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) each tallied RBIs in the inning.
Neither team was able to generate any threat in the sixth before
the last inning came around. Sloan led off the Warriors' seventh by
reaching on an error and advancing to second. However, she was
unable to move up as the next three batters were sent down in
order.
Rockford began the seventh with consecutive singles and a walk
to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch followed during Biz
Janusick's at-bat and the winning run was brought home.
Mueller and Dittmar each went 3-for-4 scoring three and two
runs, respectively. Mantz added a 2-for-4 performance with three
RBIs. WLC outhit the Regents, 12-11, but was plagued by four errors
which led to five unearned runs. Boelk pitched 6.0 innings and gave
up 10 runs, but only five earned, and 11 hits. She struck out five
and walked a pair in the loss (1-8).
Vensel was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs for
Rockford (4-15, 4-7 NAC). Four other players contributed with two
hits each. Cunningham was awarded the win (4-15) in the circle
after throwing all 7.0 innings. She allowed nine runs, eight
earned, on 12 hits, while striking out five and walking one.
Wisconsin Lutheran (3-16, 0-11 NAC) will play Rockford in the
second game of its doubleheader on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Smith
Athletic Field.
