WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Ripon softball team took part in the Spring Games on Sunday, defeating Roger Williams 7-5 in the first game of the event. The Red Hawks are slated for 10 games in five days this week, taking on teams from seven states along the way.
 
The Red Hawks struck first in Friday's opener against Roger Williams, when third baseman Abby Gilbertson plated a pair of runs on a sharp single to right center. Centerfielder Andrea Mihaljevich added to the Ripon lead an inning later, scoring Maddie Hablewitz on a double just inside the right field line.
 
Roger Williams got two runs back in top of the fifth, taking advantage of three base hits to cut the Ripon lead to one. Anna Bauer answered with an RBI single up the middle in the home half, but a bases-loaded single in the sixth once again made it a one-run game.
 
With two gone and the bases empty in the bottom of the sixth, Mihaljevich reached on an error to continue the inning, and the Red Hawks took advantage in a big way. The dust finally settled three walks and two base knocks later, with Ripon in front 7-3 moving to the final frame.
 
RWU refused to go quietly, scratching across two more in the final stanza, but Ripon ultimately held on to improve to 3-2 on the young season. Brennah Bronk picked up her first win of the year in the circle, striking out two hitters over 5.2 innings of work.
 
Ripon continues the Spring Games against Augbsurg later in the day before returning to action on Monday.