Beloit, Wis - The Ripon College baseball team had to wait until Saturday to fight off elimination due to weather on Friday afternoon when it downed Grinnell College, 5-1, in its first elimination game at the Midwest Conference Baseball Tournament. With the win, the Red Hawks improve to 23-17 while the Pioneers finish the season at 18-21.

With the game tied 1-1 going into the top of the third, Ripon retook the lead as it pushed two runs across on one hit. Following back-to-back outs, the Red Hawks were able to draw back-to-back free passes when Kyler Hickman was plunked and Nick Tenny drew a walk. Both runners came around to score when Remington Cox tripled down into the left field to put Ripon in front 3-1 before the inning ended.

The Red Hawks added another two runs in the top of the fifth using three hits, two fielder's choices, and a walk to take a 5-1 lead.

Starting pitcher Brock Warren kept the Grinnell scoreless for six straight innings after allowing the one run in the first. Warren finished the day allowing four hits over seven innings of work while fanning six. The Ripon bullpen allowed just one base runner in the last two innings.

Evan Olson and Cox each tallied a pair of hits on the day to pace all Ripon hitters. Cox finished the day going 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a triple while Olson tallied an RBI, a run scored to go along with a pair of singles.

The Red Hawks will play the loser of Beloit and Chicago this afternoon at noon at Strong Stadium.