APPLETON, Wis. - Ripon's baseball team produced its most consistent performance of the season Saturday afternoon, taking both games of a doubleheader from Lawrence University in convincing fashion, winning both in just seven innings. The Red Hawks began the day with a 14-4 victory, which saw them record 19 hits, followed by a 15-hit performance in a 16-2 victory in the nightcap.

Despite the plethora of Ripon runs on the day, it took the Red Hawks a couple innings to get going. Lawrence (4-12, 1-3 MWC) got on the board first with one run in the bottom of the first and two more in the second, before Ripon's offense got going with two runs in the third, scoring on RBI by Nick Taranto and Hector Aguinaga.

Lawrence took a 4-2 lead with a run in the fourth, but Ripon (4-11, 3-1 MWC) tied the score in the fifth when Taranto deposited the ball over the left field fence for a two-run homer. The Red Hawks would take their first lead of the game the following inning and would never look back, scoring nine runs on seven hits. Thirteen Ripon batters came to the plate that inning, with the first seven reaching base. That inning included a trio of bases loaded walks, a three-run double by Aguinaga, a two-RBI double from Michael Barnes, and a run-scoring single by Bennett Groves.

Ripon added another run in the seventh on an RBI double by Cameron Gruenwald to put the 10-run mercy rule into effect. Lawrence then went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

The Red Hawks had eight players record at least one hit, with seven players posting at least two. Randy Finger led the way with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, while Taranto and Aguinaga each drove in a team-high four runs. Josh Oswald led the team with three runs scored. Freshman Brian Brown (1-2) earned his first collegiate victory, allowing three earned runs on six hits and striking out four without issuing a walk in a seven-inning complete game.

The second game saw Ripon's bats pick up where they left off, as they plated three runs in the top of the first, scoring twice on a double by Oswald and once on a single from Aguinaga. After Lawrence scored twice in the bottom of that inning, Ripon answered with three more runs in the second, scoring on a pair of singles and on a wild pitch.

The Red Hawks extended their lead with a nine-run third, which featured six hits and one error, and saw the first six batters reach base. Gruenwald tripled in three runs, while Riley Erickson drove in two more with a double. Robbie Schuettpelz, Ramos, Oswald, and Aguinaga also each drove in a run in that inning. Ripon added another run in the fourth inning to cap the scoring.

Eight players recorded a hit for the Red Hawks, with Ramos, Erickson, and Gruenwald each finishing with a team-high three hits. Erickson and Ramos also scored three runs apiece, while Oswald led the team with four RBI. Matt Hecht (3-1) earned his second win in as many days, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out four without issuing a walk in five innings of work.

The Red Hawks will try to use this momentum Wednesday when they'll host #4 UW-Whitewater for a non-conference doubleheader. The first game of that twinbill is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at Francis Field in Ripon.