Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

RIPON, Wis. - Ripon completed a four-game sweep of Lawrence University Sunday afternoon with 9-1 and 13-1 victories, giving them a four-game lead atop the Midwest Conference North Division.

Junior pitcher Marshall Zahn was the story of the day, as he put a dent into Ripon's record book during the first game. Zahn improved his season record to 4-1, recording a school record 15 strikeouts, which is also tied for fifth in Midwest Conference history. He allowed four hits in his eight innings without allowing an earned run and walking just one batter.

The Red Hawks never trailed in the game, giving Zahn plenty of run support, beginning with one in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double by Dakotah Kirchenwitz. Ripon added four runs in the third, scoring twice on a double by Bradley Knoblock, once on a Lawrence error and another on a run-scoring single by Tom Sawyer. All of Ripon's other runs came in the fifth, as Jake Reinke drove in a run with a sac fly, Sawyer scored on a balk and Sam Waters plated two with a double to left field.

Sawyer, Waters and Knoblock led the way with three hits apiece, while Kirchenwitz had two. Knoblock also scored twice and drove in two more.

Ripon's offense was just as impressive in the second game, as they scored 13 runs on 13 hits. Despite that display, Lawrence scored the game's first run, crossing the plate in the top of the first with what would be their only run of the contest. That lead lasted until the bottom of the first when Ripon scored two runs on zero hits and one Lawrence error.

The Red Hawks added three more runs in the second, scoring once on a single by Kirchenwitz and twice more on a Mitchell Busch single. They would add four more in the third, scoring on a wild pitch, an error and RBI by Kirchenwitz and Sawyer. Robbie Schuettpelz got into the action with an RBI single in the fourth, while the Red Hawks capped the scoring with a three-run fifth that saw Sawyer, Busch and Uhen all drive in a run.

Kirchenwitz led all players with three hits, while also scoring a game-high four runs and driving in two more. Sawyer, Busch, Schuettpelz and Knoblock each added two hits, while Busch led all players with three RBI.

On the mound, Matt Hecht (4-2) earned the victory, tossing five innings of three-hit ball, while allowing one earned run and striking out three.

The Red Hawks have now won 14 of their last 16 games. They will hope to continue that success on Wednesday when they'll host ninth-ranked UW-Stevens Point. That doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. at Francis Field in Ripon.