APPLETON, Wis. - Ripon's softball team began Wednesday's doubleheader on a good note, defeating Lawrence 5-4 in a game that included a grand slam off the bat of Melanie Kobelt. The second game didn't go the Red Hawks' way, as they lost 8-3 to split with the Vikings.

The Red Hawks began the scoring in a big way during the day's first game, as Kobelt smacked a grand slam for her team-leading fifth home run of the season to give Ripon a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Lawrence (12-12, 3-5 MWC) answered with four runs of their own in the third, scoring on a two-run single and a two-run homer. That tie would last less than one inning, as Ripon scored the game's only other run in the top of the fourth when Lexi Reetz scored on a double by Teara Morgenroth.

Both teams finished with eight hits, with Reetz and Ashley Parkkonen leading the Red Hawks with two hits apiece. Reetz (5-8) also picked up the win in the circle, allowing four runs and striking out six, while walking just one, in seven innings.

The day's second game saw Lawrence score early and often, opening up a 3-0 lead after one inning thanks to a three-run double to left centerfield. The Vikings scored twice more on another double in the second inning, before adding a run in the third on an RBI single.

Ripon would get on the board in the top of the fourth when Isabella Osborn crossed the plate thanks to a throwing error by Lawrence. That momentum was short-lived however, as the Vikings scored two more runs in the bottom of that inning on a two-out double to take an 8-1 advantage. Ripon would add two late runs on an error and an RBI double by Parkkonen.

Ripon's five hits came from five different players, while Lawrence finished with 11 hits, with four players recording multi-hits.

The Red Hawks will be in action again on Friday when they will travel to Carthage College for a non-conference doubleheader. That twinbill will begin at 3 p.m. in Kenosha, Wis. and will have LiveStats available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/carthage/softball/.