KENOSHA, WI – The Rockford Rivets (14-12) faced the Kenosha Kingfish (13-15) on a rainy Saturday night for game one of a doubleheader. It was the two teams’ 10th meeting this year, where the Rivets were able to complete a four-game sweep in their latest series.

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The Screws continued their winning ways against the Kingfish, earning an 8-1 victory in a shortened seven-inning game, completely dominating Kenosha. The Rivets had 10 hits, with seven batters earning at least one.

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Left-handed pitcher Gus Allred (University of Northern Colorado) was on the mound for Rockford, making his sixth start of the season with a 1-1 record. Allred threw a complete game, allowing just one run on six hits with four strikeouts.

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The Rivets got off to a hot start, beginning with a one-out walk for Miguel Cantu (Missouri Western State University). Joey Appino (Carroll University) stepped up to the plate with a one-out RBI triple to right field, his first three-bagger of the season.

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Rockford kept the inning going when Alex Tabbert (Harper College) scored Appino from third with a two-out RBI double to left field, putting the Rivets up 2-0. The hit was Tabbert’s fifth double of the year, and he’s third on the team in that stat.

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In the top of the second, the Rivets began the inning with back-to-back outs, but it didn’t stop them from applying more damage. Coby Neville (Paradise Valley CC) earned his first knock of the night, with a two-out single for his 32nd hit of the year. Neville advanced to second with a steal, setting up Connor Kave (Harper College) for an RBI single to make it 3-0.

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Beau Bloxdorf (Madison CC) added more damage, hitting a two-out RBI single to center field to make it four straight unanswered runs for the Rivets.

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The offense continued to unload in the top of the third, once again beginning with two outs. Keith Eusebio (Paradise Valley CC) earned a two-out walk, advancing all the way to third base after a steal and a wild pitch. Ashton Zacher (Lamar University) put runners at the corners, drawing a walk of his own.

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Gavin Taylor (University of Nevada L.V.) took advantage of the scoring opportunity, hitting an RBI single to center field to extend the lead, 5-0. The Rivets’ five runs were all scored with two outs.

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Through the first three innings, Allred kept the Kingfish offense quiet. The lefty allowed just one total hit through the three frames, allowing no response to the Rivets’ offensive explosion.

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In the top of the fourth, Bloxdorf drew a leadoff walk to continue to frustrate the Kingfish’s pitching staff. An at-bat later, Bryce Nevils (McNeese State University) joined the fun, with a bunt single that was able to score Bloxdorf from first after a throwing error. The play made it a 6-0 Rivets lead.

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The Rivets were unable to continue their streak of scoring in the fifth inning, but bounced right back in the top of the sixth frame. Appino continued to fire on all cylinders, with his second RBI of the night in the form of an RBI single, scoring Bloxdorf from first base.

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Kenosha finally responded in the bottom of the sixth, earning an RBI single to make it a 7-1 game. The Kingfish were able to load the bases, but Allred was able to get himself out of the jam with a strikeout.

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Kave added on to his impressive performance, earning his second RBI single of the game in the top of the seventh to extend the lead back to seven. The Kingfish were unable to answer again in the bottom of the inning, giving the Rivets their fifth straight victory over Kenosha in the last five meetings.

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The Rivets will play game two of the doubleheader at 7:16 p.m., looking to continue a late playoff push as this season is nearing its end.