By: Emily Tuttle

RICHMOND, IN. — The Rockford Rivets (18-13) finished out their three-game series against the Richmond Flying Mummies (10-22), who looked to spoil the Rivets’ fight toward the playoff race. The Rivets had other plans, though, as they came alive in the sixth inning with nine runs to beat the Mummies 18-2. 

Joey Appino (Carroll University) started the game with a bang, going yard to right field. Appino extended his hit streak to nine and continues to be a bright spot in the Rivets lineup, finishing the game with five RBIs. He went 2-for-4 with two walks and three runs. 

Sam Hays (Elgin CC) got his fifth appearance for the Rivets, his absolute best of the season. Hayes had longevity and command in a 110-pitch outing. Hayes did not allow one walk through his eight innings and struck out six. He allowed no runs and contributed eight scoreless innings. 

Heading into the top of the fifth, it was a one-run game. But things would not so soon stay that way. 

The Rivets tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Connor Kave (Iona University) belted his first single of the season before Alex Tabbert’s (UIC) RBI single brought him across the plate. The second run came off an Appino sac fly deep to left field.  

But in the sixth inning, the Rivets slammed a slew of runs to take a commanding lead and blow the game wide open. They sent 14 batters to the plate, batting through the order for the third time in three games against the Mummies. 

Ashton Zacher (Lamar University) started off the inning with a leadoff single, the only leadoff man of the night thus far. Kave hit an RBI single to bring in Zacher before the Mummies replaced their pitcher.  

However, the call to the pen was to no avail. The next five Rivets batters hit RBIs to tack on runs. The consecutive hits began with Tabbert’s RBI single, Appino’s 2 RBI single, Coby Neville’s (Paradise Valley CC) sac fly and a bases-clearing double from Gavin Taylor (UNLV). Zacher added a cherry on top with a two-run home run—his first of the season. 

Just like that, the Rivets scored nine in the sixth and had no intention of stopping there. 

Hays continued his dominance, facing the minimum in the sixth and getting three straight outs after a leadoff double in the seventh. His performance on the mound allowed the Rivets hitters space to continue their productive night hitting. 

Over the series, the Rivets’ offense came to play. In three games against the Mummies, they totaled 40 hits, having over 10 hits each game. 

Hank Allred (Alcorn State University) replaced Hays on the mound in the bottom of the eighth and allowed a questionable home run that bounced off the outfield wall but was later ruled a home run. 

The Rivets’ thrillingly overpowered the Mummies with offensive firepower throughout. They are on a four-game winning streak and will return home on Wednesday to take on the Traverse City Pit Spitters at 6:35 pm as they continue their burst toward a playoff run.