WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - In what was a rematch of last year's NCAA Regional Playoff game, which resulted in a 5-4 Coe victory, Ripon extracted some revenge, defeating the Kohawks 9-5 Saturday in what was the Red Hawks 2016 season opener. Ripon never trailed, but needed a ninth inning grand slam by sophomore Randy Finger to put an end to Coe's comeback attempt.

The Red Hawks (1-0) wasted no time getting on the board, as they scored a run on their fourth at-bat of the season when Josh Oswald singled to right, allowing Nick Kita to cross the plate. Ripon doubled their lead in the second on an RBI groundout by Kita, scoring Michael Barnes.

After a couple scoreless innings, Ripon plated two more runs on a two-out single off the bat of Finger. Coe (4-4) finally got on the board with a sac fly in the bottom of the fifth, before scoring two runs on a double in the sixth.

Coe would tie the score with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, setting the stage for Finger's heroics in the ninth. After Oswald drew a bases loaded walk to break the tie, Finger stepped to the plate and delivered a grand slam for his first collegiate home run.

Finger finished the game 2-for-4 with six RBI, which matches his total from all of last season. Kita led the Red Hawks with three base knocks, while he, Oswald and Nick Schmitt each scored two runs.

Aaron Langdon (1-0) picked up the win with 1.1 innings of hitless ball. He struck out the final three batters of the game, leaving two Coe runners stranded to end their comeback bid.

Coe was led by Craig Konrady, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI from the leadoff spot. Tyler Smith suffered the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of work.

Ripon will be in action again on Sunday when they'll play a doubleheader against Wheaton (Mass.) College. The first game of that twinbill will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time at Lake Myrtle Park Field Five in Winter Haven, Fla.