JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Ripon College baseball team dropped its first road Midwest Conference game 4-3 to Illinois College to fall to 6-7 on the year and 2-1 in the conference this afternoon. The Blueboys move to 6-13 and 1-2 in the MWC.

Tied 1-1 after the first both teams went scoreless until the Red Hawks took the lead in the top of the fourth when Jack Anderson got things rolling when he singled to right to leadoff. Nick Tenny reached on a fielder's choice, but Anderson was out on the play at second.  Tenny moved to third when Evan Olson doubled to right field. A ground out to short by Kaleb Burns allowed Tenny to score and make it a 2-1 Ripon lead before the inning ended.

The lead didn't last long as the Blueboys plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to go back in front, 3-2.

In the top of the seventh, Ripon sent seven hitters to the plate to tie the game at three. Cam Stampfl started things off with a single to center and later advanced to third when Brock Warren singled to center. Warren later stole second and the throw down by the Illinois catcher allowed Stampfl to score and tie the game. After back-to-back outs, Ripon was able to load the bases but a strikeout ended the threat.

Illinois wasted no time retaking the lead in its half of the seventh when a solo shot over the center field wall put the Blueboys back in front, 4-3. The Illinois lead held as Ripon went three up, three down in the final two innings.

As a team, Ripon tallied 10 hits with three of them being doubles. Warren and Olson combined going 4-for-9 with an RBI, a double, and a pair of stolen bases.

Starting pitcher Warren threw six innings allowing six hits and three earned runs while fanning five in the process. Reliever Blaine Wahlen took the loss (1-1) as he allowed a hit and a run scored in two innings of work.

The Red Hawks are back on the road tomorrow when they take on Illinois in a doubleheader. The first game is set for 11 AM with game two to follow.