Box Score vs. Augustana (Ill.)
Box Score vs. Coe
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Runs were few and far between for the Ripon softball team Friday afternoon during the first day of the Augustana (Ill.) Invitational, but the Red Hawks proved they can play with some of the best teams in the Midwest. After losing their first game 11-0 in five innings to Augustana, Ripon went toe-to-toe with 16th-ranked Coe College, losing to the Kohawks, 1-0.
The Red Hawks (5-7) fell behind early in the first game of the day, as Augustana (12-5) plated a pair of runs in the top of the first on a two-run single. The Vikings scored once more in the second on a groundout, before pushing their lead to seven with a four-run third inning. Augustana scored four more runs in the fourth with the biggest blow of the game, a grand slam to dead centerfield to cap the scoring.
Ripon managed two hits in the game, coming from Karisa Simonsen and Jordan Hester. Ashley Gnacinski (2-2) suffered the loss, with six of her 11 runs allowed being earned.
In the Red Hawks’ second game, they out-hit #16 Coe 4-3, but couldn’t get the big hit when they needed it. In the top of the fifth, Ripon had a great scoring opportunity when Beth Ebben led the inning off with a triple, but she would be stranded on third to end the frame. In the seventh, with the score still tied at 0, Stephanie Rieuwpassa led off with a double, followed by a single from Cassie Bilotto. Neither player would score however, as runners were stranded on second and third.
Coe (16-2) was able to take advantage of their opportunity, as their only rally of the game came in the bottom of the seventh when they recorded back-to-back hits with one out to score the game’s only run on a double to right center.
Rieuwpassa (3-3) was dominant on the mound once again for the Red Hawks, allowing just three hits, while striking out eight and walking none. Her counterpart, Mackenzie Laux struck out 13 batters, while walking none.
The Red Hawks will continue their play in the Augustana (Ill.) Invitational on Saturday when they’ll play Wartburg College and #16 Coe College at 9 and 11 a.m., respectively.
