Inferno's Late-Inning Rally Overcomes Regents' Early Lead

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Alverno College rallied from a six-run deficit to defeat host Rockford College, 8-7, in the second game of a Northern Athletics Conference doubleheader this evening at Smith Field. The visiting Inferno lost the opener to the Regents, 2-1.

Junior catcher Stef Wilmore (Elkhart, Ind./Central) connected for her third hit of the game as she laced a lead-off single through the left side in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Inferno trailed 7-6.

Erika Wotnoske (Greenfield, Wis.) laid down a bunt on the next at bat in an attempt to sacrifice Wilmore, but a mishandled ball by the Regents' third baseman allowed Wotnoske to reach base. On the same play, the Regents compounded the error on a throw to an uncovered base as Wilmore slid in to third, and then safely slid into home plate which tied the game, 7-7.

Wotnoske reached third with all the attention on the lead base runner, and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch with Lauren Colette (Antioch, Ill.) at bat. The sophomore outfielder knocked the ball out of the covering pitcher's glove on the close play at the plate to put the Inferno in front, 8-7, in the final inning.

Erin Dulek (Rosholt, Wis.) -- who entered the pitching circle with two outs in the fourth inning -- allowed a lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh, but retired the next three batters for her eighth win of the season (8-12).

The Inferno allowed the Regents to score seven runs in the first four innings, but answered with five runs on five hits in the top of the sixth which kept the game within reach. Chelsea Gulbronson (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) led off the sixth with a triple, which puts the sophomore shortstop in a four-way tie atop the Alverno record book with six-career three-baggers.

The Inferno offense was led by Wilmore's game-high three hits and three RBIs, while Jamie Villalobos (Antioch, Ill.) added two hits and a RBI.

The victory was the eighth conference win of the season, breaking Alverno's previous record of seven, accomplished each of the past two seasons. The Inferno (15-19, 8-12 NAC) is now just a win away from tying the school record for most overall victories with six games to play (four conference) in the regular season.

In the opening game Rockford (11-23, 6-14 NAC) scored a run in the first and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead, and held the Inferno to just five hits through six innings. The Inferno finally got the bats going in the top of the seventh as three-consecutive one-out singles by Dulek, Megan Rossi (Hammond, Ind./Morton) and Villalobos finally plated a run. But two runners would be stranded as the Regents' pitcher retired the next two batters and ended the Inferno's threat.

Dulek picked up the complete-game loss with six strikeouts and two runs on just five hits.

Villalobos had three hits and the team's lone RBI in four at bats to lead the offense, while Dulek was 2-for-3 at the plate.

Alverno takes the field again this Saturday in the team's regular season home finale against MSOE. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon at Alverno Field.

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score