Box Score vs. Monmouth

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - In what was supposed to be a two-game slate for the Ripon softball team, Mother Nature only allowed one game to be played, as the Red Hawks lost to Monmouth College 5-2 in the third and final day of the Midwest Conference Classic. Ripon's second game was suspended early in the contest due to rain and could possibly be continued at a later date.

In the game that was completed, Monmouth scored first, plating a run in the top of the second on a two-out fielding error by the Red Hawks. Monmouth added two runs the following inning on an RBI double and a run scoring single, which occurred on back-to-back at-bats. The Fighting Scots built a four-run lead with another run in the fourth, which was aided by two more Ripon errors.

Ripon cut that lead in half in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single by Cassie Olson and a bases-loaded hit by pitch. A solo home run in the sixth by Monmouth would cap the scoring and seal the game, as Ripon didn't record a hit in the final two innings.

The Red Hawk's four hits came from Olson, Korrine Peterson, Stephanie Cartwright and Ashley Parkkonen. Ashley Gnacinski (5-10) suffered the loss, despite allowing just three earned runs and striking out three batters in seven innings.

Ripon's next scheduled games are Thursday when they'll travel to Lawrence. The first game of that doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. in Appleton, Wis.