Alverno scores four late unanswered runs to top WLC

MILWAUKEE - Alverno College scored four unanswered runs over the final four innings to comeback and defeat Wisconsin Lutheran College 7-6 in the second game of a Northern Athletics Conference softball doubleheader on Sunday at Alverno Field.

The Inferno scored single runs in each of the first two innings for an early 2-0 lead. The Warriors put runners in scoring position during their first two times up, but couldn't bring either run around to score.

In the third, Wisconsin Lutheran capitalized on two errors by the Inferno and also strung together four hits to plate four runs and take a 4-2 lead. Katie Sloan (Omaha, Neb./Nebraska Lutheran), Morgan Dittmar (Oostburg, Wis./Manitowoc Lutheran) and Kayla Peterson (Lewiston, Minn./Lewiston-Altura) each had RBIs in the inning for WLC.

AC closed within a run, 4-3, in the bottom of the third on three hits, but left two runners on base as the inning came to an end. The Warriors plated a pair of runs in the fourth on RBIs from Sloan and Lauren Mantz (West Bend, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) for a 6-3 lead.

The Inferno recorded eight of their 12 hits over the final three innings, beginning in the fifth when they scored two runs to cut the deficit to 6-5. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth tied the game at 6-6 before the seventh inning rolled around.

Dittmar led off the seventh by reaching on a fielding error by the pitcher and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two of the next three batters were retired, however, as WLC left the possible go-ahead run in scoring position.

Jamie Villalobos began in Inferno seventh with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Peterson retired the next two batters before Shataya McComb singled up the middle to drive home the game-winning run.

Jenny Boelk (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Sloan was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Sack also added a pair of hits. Peterson was dealt the loss (0-2) after she pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits.

Villalobos ended the game 3-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored for AC (9-19, 3-9 NAC). Jessica Goetz pitched 7.0 complete, giving up six runs, four earned, while fanning eight to improve to 9-16 on the year.

Wisconsin Lutheran (6-18, 3-13 NAC) begins a six-game homestand on Tuesday, April 20 by hosting the Lakeland College Muskies in a 3 p.m. NAC doubleheader at Warrior Field.