RIPON, Wis. – The Ripon softball team continued MWC play on Saturday, hosting Cornell College for a doubleheader at Tracy Field. The Red Hawk offense never got going, as the home team dropped the opener 8-0 before falling 4-0 in the finale.
 
The Rams scored a run in each of the first two innings before tacking on a six-spot in the fourth to open up the lead to 8-0. Ripon left a pair of runners aboard twice, but Cornell was able to snuff out the Red Hawk scoring threat before it fully developed.
 
Mikaela Lawrence and Brennah Bronk both contributed a pair of base hits for the home nine, while Abby Gilbertson and Maddie Hablewitz each added a single. Kalen Berger took the loss in the circle after 3.1 innings of work, while Catherine Skoglund came out of the bullpen to throw the rest of the game.
 
Two runs in the first and two more in the fourth ended up being the difference for Cornell in the nightcap, giving the Rams their second win of the day. Seven different Red Hawk hitters came away with hits to close out the weekend, with Gilbertson's two-hit performance highlighting Game 2.
 
Bronk was hit with the loss despite delivering her sixth complete game of the year for the Ripon pitching staff. Gilbertson now leads the team with 8 multi-hit games this spring, and she has now reached base safely in all 20 games to begin the 2023 campaign to set a new career-best.
 
The Red Hawks are back in action next Saturday, when they travel to Galesburg, Ill. to take on Knox College for two games. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.