By: Emily Tuttle<\/b><\/p>\n
ROCKFORD, Ill. \u2014 The Rockford Rivets (2-1) battled through a lightning delay in the third game of their series against the Richmond Flying Mummies (1-2). The Rivets totaled 16 strikeouts in a 8-4 loss to the Mummies Thursday night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Richmond opened the game in the top of the first with a leadoff double, and that runner was soon brought home on a single. The Rivets couldn\u2019t put the ball into play in the first inning as Richmond starter Jaden Alberson gained his first two strikeouts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For the home team, right handed pitcher Carter Lund (Madison CC) got his first start tonight, where he went four innings. From the jump, he gave away free passes and had a hard time gaining control on the mound. He allowed six runs, although only one of them earned in an outing where he threw three strikeouts.<\/span><\/p>\n The Mummies took advantage of Lund\u2019s walks early. It was a batter hit by a pitch in the second inning that put the leadoff man on. From there, a couple wild pitches that snuck past catcher Bryk Barnard (GateWay CC) and a slew of balls loaded the bases. The Mummies saw their chance and took it, when an error by Zan Von Schlegell (University of St. Thomas) at short allowed another to come home.<\/span><\/p>\n By the end of the second, the Mummies led 6-0, the latter three runs coming off a bases clearing double. Rivets manager Bob Koopmann said that although the runs were unearned, it is the pitchers job to assist his defense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe pitcher has got to pick up the position player,\u201d Koopmann said. \u201cYou can\u2019t blame it all on the two-out error.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Rivets continued to go to work at the dish, but not to much avail, going scoreless through four innings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The weather had its own plans though, a strike of lighting putting the game into a 30 minute delay and sending fans to their vehicle for safety.<\/span><\/p>\n After a brief pause, the action continued in the fifth, and the Rivets finally put up some runs. It started off with a single from Joey Appino (Carroll University), who reached three times on a night where many failed to do so. Keith Eusebio (Paradise Valley CC) and Alex Tabbert (Harper CC) both walked to load the bases, and Appino strolled home on a wild pitch. After another walk, Von Schlegell hit a two RBI single to give the Rivets a boost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n