RIPON, Wis. – The Ripon softball team hosted Lawrence for a Midwest Conference doubleheader on Friday, winning the opener 5-4 in extra innings before taking the nightcap 7-6 in thrilling fashion. The Game 2 win surpasses the Red Hawks' win total from 2022 with eight scheduled games still remaining in the 2023 campaign.
Lawrence got on the board first, scratching across a run in the first and adding another in the third to make it 2-0.
Brennah Bronk beat out an infield single in the home third to plate
Kayla Cruz and cut the Ripon deficit in half.
A two-run double in the top of the fifth extended the Viking lead to 4-1, but the Red Hawk offense was just getting started.
Sydney Swanson singled in a run in the sixth, and
Riley Breider drew a bases-loaded walk to bring Ripon within on heading to the final frame.
Lawrence threatened in the top of the seventh, but the Red Hawks escaped the jam, setting the stage for the offense to go right back to work.
Abby Gilbertson opened the bottomed of the seventh with a single to right, and four batters later, Swanson struck again, plating Gilberton's pinch runner to tie the game.
The bottom of the ninth proved to be the difference in the opener, with
Maddie Hablewitz opening the frame with a double to center field. Swanson once again came up clutch, picking up a double of her own to bring Hablewitz in to score and give the Red Hawks the walk off victory.
The Ripon offense totaled 17 hits for the game, marking the second highest tally of the season and providing Bronk just enough support to pick up the win. Bronk tossed 4.1 winnings and allowed just one hit while earning her second win in as many days in the circle.
The Vikings again scored in the first inning in Game 2, but an RBI groundout and a
Kayla Cruz single gave the Red Hawks a 2-1 lead an inning later. Lawrence tied the game in the fifth before posting a three-spot in the seventh to take a 5-2 lead, but Ripon again saw the offense jolt to life late.
Swanson drew a one-out walk to open the home seventh, and Cruz belted a double to left to bring her home. Breider came away with an RBI single to bring the Red Hawks within a run, forcing a pitching change with still just one away in the frame.
Bronk roped a single down the left field line to tie the game, putting pressure on the Lawrence defense. Gilbertson strolled to the plate and put the ball in play, and a throwing error allowed the winning run to cross the plate to give the Red Hawks their second walk-off of the day.
Cruz, Breider and
Mikaela Lawrence each picked up two base hits in the back half of Friday's action, while Hablewitz has now reached base safely in 14 consecutive games.
Kalen Berger went the distance in the circle, picking up her fourth win and her team-best 10th complete game of the year.
The Red Hawks will have a quick turnaround, heading south on Sunday afternoon to take on Beloit for a pair of Midwest Conference games. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
