AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Facing one of their toughest season-opening opponents in recent memory, Ripon's baseball team lost to 25th-ranked Rowan University 14-0 Saturday night to open the Red Hawks' 2018 campaign. 

Despite the final score, Ripon (0-1) managed to keep it close in the early going thanks to the pitching of senior Drew Slade (0-1), who allowed two earned runs on six hits, while striking out six in five innings of work. Slade left the game with a 2-0 deficit, before Rowan (5-1) scored four runs in each of the next three innings.

Rowan recorded 14 hits, with five going for extra bases - all doubles. Dillon Mendel led the way with a 3-for-5 performance, including two doubles, while scoring a pair of runs. Justin Provost finished with a game-high four RBI, as he went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Ripon registered three hits in the contest, with Nick Taranto, Josh Oswald, and Eric Hietpas each going 1-for-3 with a single.

The Red Hawks will try to put this game behind them, as they'll be in action again on Sunday when they'll face Rutgers-Camden and Webster University at Noon and 3:30 p.m. Central Time, respectively. Both games will be played at Lake Myrtle Park Field Three in Auburndale, Fla.