MONMOUTH, Ill. - For the first time in four years, Ripon's baseball team is in the Midwest Conference Championship game. In order to get there, the Red Hawks defeated the top-seeded teams in both the MWC South and North divisions, topping the host school Monmouth 4-3 in the early game, before edging University of Chicago 5-4.

In the day's first game, Ripon (24-16) wasted no time getting on the board, as they scored a pair of runs in the top of the first. Joey Garza drove in the game's first run on a fielder's choice, while Nick Taranto drove in the other run on a groundout. The Red Hawks scored again in the third when Garza drove in Tyler Nelson with a sacrifice bunt.

Monmouth (22-15) clawed their way back into the game with two runs on one hit in the third, scoring on a two-run single. Ripon would add another run in the fifth when Taranto doubled to left, allowing Michael Barnes to score. Monmouth got that run back on an RBI single in the sixth, but that would be the last run that either team would score.

Brice Swick was dominant on the mound once again for the Red Hawks, tossing his second consecutive complete game to improve his season record to 7-2, which is tied for the ninth-most single season wins in program history. His 73 strikeouts this season is now tied for third in program history. Swick allowed just one earned run on eight hits on Friday, while striking out four and walking one. He has now won his last five starts, and during his last 38 innings of work, has compiled a miniscule ERA of 0.47, while striking out 39 batters (9.2 K/9) and has a 0.92 WHIP, while allowing just two extra base hits during that span.

Ripon recorded six hits in the game, coming from six different players. Nelson and Barnes each scored two runs, while Garza and Taranto each recorded two RBI.

That advanced Ripon to the winner's bracket in the afternoon, where they faced off against Chicago (24-11), whom had split a four-game series with the Red Hawks earlier this year. Chicago scored the first run of Friday's game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first. That lead didn't last long, as Ripon plated a pair of runs in the bottom half of that inning, scoring on RBI singles from Taranto and Keegan Johnston.

Chicago would take the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, but that lead would again be short-lived, as Ripon answered with two runs in the bottom of that inning. Nick Terrell tied the score with a sac fly to left, before Noah Herried scored the go-ahead run on a fielding error by Chicago's third baseman.

Ripon would add a much-needed insurance run in the seventh on another Maroon error. Chicago got that run back in the eighth on an RBI single to make the score 5-4, which is where it would stand heading into the ninth frame. Brody Marks then came on to close it, pitching a perfect final inning to secure the win and punch Ripon's ticket to the MWC Tournament Championship Game.

The Red Hawks finished with nine hits, led by Nelson's 3-for-4 performance from the lead-off spot. Taranto and Johnston each added two base knocks. Kade Lancour (4-3) earned the win, pitching one hitless inning of relief, while Marks picked up his fourth save of the season, which ties Ripon's single season school record.

Ripon will now await their opponent in Saturday's championship game, which will begin at 1 p.m. against the winner of tomorrow morning's Cornell vs. Chicago game. There will be another championship game at 4 p.m., if necessary. All games will be played in Monmouth, Ill., and can be seen live, with LiveStats at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/monmouth/.