BELOIT, Wis. - Playing their first games in more than three weeks, the Ripon College softball team returned to the field Tuesday afternoon, defeating Beloit College 13-6, before falling in the nightcap by a score of 12-4.

In the day's first game, Ripon (2-12) got off to a great start with three runs in the top of the first inning. Micaela Encarnacion scored the game's first run on an RBI single by Riley Breider, which was followed by a pair of RBI from Addison Lindsey, who reached on an error. Beloit (3-1) would answer with five runs in the bottom of the first, but Ripon's bats stayed hot the following inning, whcih saw the Red Hawks score four runs on five hits. Claire Luebke and Abby Gilbertson each drove in a pair of runs in that inning.

Beloit cut the lead to one with a run in the second to make the score 7-6, but that's as close as it would get the rest of the game. Ripon added two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Luebke and Lindsey. The Red Hawks added four more in the sixth, with three scoring on a bases loaded pinch-hit double by Margaret Herrin. Lindsey also added another RBI on a single to right center.

Ripon cranked out 16 hits in the game, led by Luebke and Breider, whom each recorded three hits. Gilbertson, Brennah Bronk, and Haley Reierson registered two hits apiece. Lindsey notched a game-high four RBI, which is tied for 10th in program history for a single game. Lilli Smith (1-2) earned the victory, allowing just one earned run and striking out three in a complete game.

The day's second game again saw Ripon scoring first, as Taylor Natzke drove in Kayley Grabowski with a double to right center. Beloit tied things up in the bottom of that frame on an RBI single of their own, but Ripon answered with three more in the third, which was led off by Encarnacion recording her sixth career triple, which is tied for fifth in program history. She would score one batter later to take the lead. Cortney Bols also drove in a run in that inning, while Lindsey scored on a wild pitch.

That lead was short-lived, with Beloit scoring six runs on five hits in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good. They added another in the fifth, before socring four in the sixth to end the game.

Ripon finished game two with eight htis from eight different players. Alyssa Banta struck out two batters in 2.1 innings of work, but it wasn't enough to get the victory.

The Red Hawks will be in action again this weekend in what will be their first home games in 715 days. They will play two games against Lake Forest College on Saturday at Tracy Field, with the first pitch scheduled for Noon.