Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

BELOIT, Wis. - Ripon welcomed the conference season with open arms Saturday afternoon, as they were able to put their 3-11 non-conference record behind them and focus on games of more importance. That focus resulted in a doubleheader sweep of Beloit College, edging the Buccaneers 3-2 in game one, before winning the second 10-2 in a game that saw all but one starter record at least one hit.

In the first game of the day, Ripon (5-11, 2-0 MWC) fell behind early when Beloit's Tala Cornell led off the bottom of the first with a triple and scored on a groundout one batter later. That lead lasted until the top of the third, which saw the first five Ripon batters reach base. Haylea Hoskins tied the game on a fielder's choice, scoring Cassie Olson, who led the inning off with a single. The Red Hawks took their first and final lead of the game one batter later when Stephanie Cartwright connected on a two-run single, scoring Korrine Peterson and Jordan Hester.

Peterson and Cassie Bilotto combined to go 6-for-7, as both players recorded three hits. Peterson also stole two more bases, upping her season total to 12, which is already tied for eighth in school history for a single season with half the season still to play. Ashley Gnacinski (4-6) picked up the win, tossing seven innings of five-hit ball, allowing two runs and striking out six.

In the second game, Peterson and Bilotto continued their tear, recording three more hits apiece. Bilotto also drove in four runs, which is tied for seventh in school history for a single game. Her first two RBI came in the top of the first to give the Red Hawks a 2-0 lead. Ripon doubled that lead in the second when Hester drove in a pair of runs with a double.

After Beloit (3-14, 0-2 MWC) got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second, the Red Hawks scored two more of their own in the third on two seperate double steals. Ripon capped the scoring with four runs on six hits in the sixth. Cartwright and Gnacinski drove in one run apiece with base hits, while a Bilotto double drove in the other two.

Six players had mroe than one hit for Ripon, which finished the game with 16 base knocks. Hoskins (1-2) pitched a complete game five-hitter, allowing just one earned run.

The Red Hawks will now step out of conference on Sunday with a home doubleheader against UW-Oshkosh, beginning at 1 p.m. at Tracy Field. LiveStats for those games will be available at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ripon.portal.