Inferno Pounds Out 17 Runs, Goes 1-1 on Day

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The 2-plus hour rain delay didn't stop the momentum of the Alverno College offense as the team pounded out 17 runs in a pair of games today at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. The Inferno, who scored 10 runs in Saturday's finale, defeated Newbury College 9-2 in the opening game, followed by a 9-8 heart-breaking loss to Penn State-Behrend in the nightcap.

Versus Newbury (0-2) the Inferno trailed 2-1 after three innings, but scored eight runs in the final four frames for the comeback win.

First baseman Jamie Villalobos (Antioch, Ill.) opened the scoring for the Inferno with a one-out triple in the first inning that went the distance after an errant throw by the Nighthawks' right fielder allowed her to score on the play.

The Nighthawks answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning and took the lead with a RBI-double in the third, but a lead-off walk by pitcher Megan Rossi (Hammond, Ind./Morton) came around to tie the game, 2-2, in the top of the fourth.

Rossi found herself in a bit of a jam in the bottom of the fourth, after a single and an Inferno error put two Nighthawks on base. Fellow freshman Erin Dulek (Rosholt, Wis.) relieved Rossi with one out, and took care of the next two batters to maintain the tie.

The Inferno then strung some hits together and scored three runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and two more in the seventh to put the Nighthawks away. Dulek, who picked up her first-career win in 3.2 innings of relief work, gave up just one hit and fanned five batters.

Rossi gave up just two runs (one earned) and struck out three in her first-career start in the circle, a no decision.

Sophomores Ashleigh Sagat (New Berlin, Wis./Eisenhower) and Chelsea Gulbronson (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) led the Inferno offensive attack with three hits apiece, while Gulbronson, Villalobos and Rossi each scored two runs.

In the second game of the day -- originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. start, yet didn't begin until 6 -- Alverno (2-2) found itself in a 5-0 hole, but a lead-off walk by Erika Wotnoske (Greenfield, Wis.) was the spark the team needed to get the offense rolling.

Lauren Colette (Antioch, Ill.) doubled to center to put two runners aboard before Bre Hart's single sent Wotnoske home to put the Inferno on the board. Gulbronson scored Colette and then Sagat sent home Hart for two more runs.

Alverno trailed 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth when back-to-back hits by Colette and Villalobos threatened the Lions' (2-0) lead. Gulbronson laced a single up the middle to score Colette, and Sagat followed it up with a three-run bomb to left-center which gave the Inferno an 8-7 lead.

Unfortunately, the Lions had one last roar in the final inning and took advantage of a pair of Inferno errors. A lead-off single turned out to be the tying run after a fielding error allowed it to score. Then Dulek (1-2) -- who has six strikeouts in the complete game -- struck out the batter for second out, but a snap throw to third base in an attempt to pick off the runner was off the mark as the go-ahead run safely crossed home plate. The next batter would ground out to end the top of the inning, but the damage was done.

Wotnoske was able to reach base in the bottom of the seventh, but wasn't able to be sent home as the game ended in favor of the Lions.

The Inferno out hit its opponents 13-11, as five Inferno batters collected a pair of hits each, but left seven runners on base in the loss.

Alverno will rest up tomorrow before returning to action on Tuesday versus Rochester Institute of Technology and Finlandia University. The games are scheduled for 3 and 5 p.m. (EST) at the Lee Country Sports Complex.

Game 1 Box Score (vs. Newbury)

Game 2 Box Score (vs. Penn State-Behrend)