JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Freshman Kyler Hickman posts his first collegiate multi-home run game as the Ripon College baseball team split a doubleheader with host Illinois College to close out its first conference weekend series of the season. The Red Hawks move to 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the conference while the Blueboys are now 7-14 on the season and 3-3 in the Midwest Conference.

Kyler Hickman finished the day going 4-for-6 with six RBIs, two home runs, a walk, and a pair of runs scored. Teammate Brock Warren closed out the day going 3-for-7 and tallied three walks, an RBI, five runs scored, a home run, a double, and two stolen bases.

The Red Hawks are back in action on Tuesday, April 4 when they host conference rival Lawrence University in a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled for 1 pm with game two follow.

Game 1: Ripon 4, Illinois 16 – 8 Innings

Trailing 1-0 going into the top of the fourth, Madigan singled to third to leadoff, then the pitcher's throwing error allowed him to take second. He then advanced to third on a throw. Once everything settled down, Warren reached first on an error by the second baseman, which allowed Madigan to score and tie the game at one. Ripon kept the inning alive but a fielder's choice and a double play ball ended the threat.

Illinois retook the lead in the lead in the bottom of the fifth when it pushed a pair of runs across to go up 3-1. The Red Hawks were able to get one of the runs back in the top of the sixth to make it 3-2 but the Blueboys tacked on another three runs in the bottom half of the frame to go up 6-2.

Going into the top of the eighth down three, Evan Olson walked to get things started for Ripon. The next two batters went down in order, but Remington Cox made it a two-run game when he parked a two-run home run over the center field wall.  Ripon kept the inning going with a hit-by-pitch and a single but a strikeout ended the inning.

The Blueboys broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth as they plated 10 runs on eight hits to run rule Ripon, 16-4.

Ripon starting pitcher Caleb Mammoser took the loss for his third of the season. He allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits over the course of six innings. He finished with a game-high eight strikeouts.

Game 2: Ripon 11, Illinois 8

The Red Hawks wasted no time getting on the board in game two as it pushed three runs across in the top of the first. With back-to-back ground outs, Warren walked and then stole second to keep the inning going. Olson then walked to put runners on first and second. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move up 90 feet each. Hickman put Ripon in front when he parked a three-run home run over the left-field fence.

Ripon increased its lead as it tacked on a run in the top of the second to make it 4-1. The Blueboys got a run back in the bottom of the third to cut the lead in half to make it, 4-2. The Red Hawks add runs in the fourth and sixth to go up, 6-2.

Illinois chipped away at the lead, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-4. The Red Hawks added another in the top of the second to make it 7-4 but the Blueboys scored another two runs in the bottom half to make it a one-run game.

With the score 7-6 going into the top of the eighth, the Red Hawks were looking for some insurance. Madigan and pinch hitter Jack Anderson drew back-to-back walks to open the frame. Both runners then took advantage of a passed ball to move up a base each. Warren was intentionally walked to load the bases. The Blueboys went back to the bullpen with no outs but the new reliever allowed a sacrifice fly to center by Olson that scored Madigan and sent Anderson to third. With one down and runners on the corners, Warren stole second to give Ripon two runners in scoring position. Both runners came around to score when Hickman parked his second three-run home run over the left-field wall to make it, 11-6.

The Blueboys attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth when they scored a pair of runs to make it. 11-8 before a strikeout ended the game.

Ripon starter Mitchell Lukasik picked up his first win (1-1) of the season. He scattered five hits over five innings of work allowing two runs (one earned) while fanning three. Reliever Blaine Wahlen earned his first save of the season in the process.