ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Ripon's softball team lost both of their games Saturday afternoon on what was the first day of the two-day Augustana (Ill.) Invitational. The Red Hawks were edged by Augustana to start the day, falling 4-3 in nine innings, before dropping the nightcap 8-1 to the University of Dubuque.
In the day's first game, Ripon (4-8) jumped on the scoreboard first with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, coming on an RBI single by
Isabella Osborn and a run-scoring fielder's choice, which saw
Sara Ertel cross the plate. Augustana (6-7) answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of that inning on an RBI double, which was followed by a run-scoring single.
After the game went to extra innings, Ripon took the lead again with a run in the top of the eighth, as Osborn doubled down the left field line, scoring
Casey O'Malley from third. Needing one run to extend the game even more, Augustana got just that, tying the score at three on a sac fly. Augustana would end the game one inning later on sacrifice bunt with one out.
Ripon finished the game with four hits, with two apiece coming from Osborn and
Stephanie Cartwright.
Lexi Reetz (3-4) took the hard luck loss, allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out five through 8.2 innings.
The day's second game saw Ripon fall behind early as Dubuque (6-10) scored three runs in the top of the first and two more in the second. Ripon's only run came in the fourth when
Melanie Kobelt crushed a solo home run to lead off the inning. Dubuque added three more runs in the seventh to put the game away.
Ripon finished the game with six hits, coming from six different players.
Jessica Kobelt (1-4) started in the circle, striking out three batters in four innings of work. Dubuque recorded 15 hits in the game.
The Red Hawks will be in action again on Sunday against these same two teams at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with their first contest coming against Dubuque in Rock Island, Ill.
