CLERMONT, Florida – The Ripon softball program continued its spring break trip on Monday at Hancock Park, falling 12-8 to Salem State before losing a 7-6 heartbreaker to Macalester.
The afternoon finale featured a flurry of runs and lead changes – there were eight total runs scored in the last three half innings. With Ripon (0-6) leading 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, a single with the bases loaded scored all three Macalester (7-3) runs to put the Scots up 5-3. However, Ripon wouldn't go away quietly in the seventh. Following singles by
Mikaela Lawrence and
Anna Bauer,
Daniella Orozco doubled to score Lawrence and cut Ripon's deficit in half. Three batters later, down to their last out, the Red Hawks got a go-ahead, two-run double by
Kayla Cruz to lead 6-5 with three outs to play.
The Scots did most of their work in the seventh with two outs – a single, walk and a hit batter loaded the bases. Unfortunately, Macalester got a walkoff, two-run double down to its last strike to win the game.
Macalester took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second before Bauer walked in a run with the bases loaded in the top of the third to tie it up. The next at-bat, Orozco had an RBI single and on the ensuing at-bat, Lawrence scored on a wild pitch to put Ripon up 3-1. The Red Hawks would concede a single run in the bottom of the third, but the pitching and defense would hold strong until the Scots' scoring spurt in the sixth.
In her fourth career game, Orozco had a career day at the plate – the freshman went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI. She's now tied for second in program history with four hits in a single game. Lawrence, Bauer, Cruz and
Hadley Berendsen also recorded hits.
On the mound,
Kalen Berger took the loss, pitching the entire game for the Red Hawks. She scattered 10 hits, seven runs – four earned – and five walks.
Ripon struggled out of the gate in the opener against Salem State (1-2). Working against Berger, the Vikings plated four in the opening half inning – three before an out was recorded. The Red Hawks answered in the bottom half, however, as traffic on the bases forced a run-scoring error by Salem State with two outs. The scoring for Ripon continued in the second as Lawrence recorded a sacrifice fly to score
MariaFernanda Lerma, trimming its deficit in half after two innings.
Salem State used small ball in the middle innings to build a big advantage – the Vikings used one sacrifice bunt, a bunt single and an errant throw off a bunt to create momentum. Salem scored once in the fourth and six times in the fifth to lead 11-2 after four and a half.
Ripon refused to go down without a fight –
Abrianna Anderson reached first on a fielding error by the centerfielder with Ripon down to its last out as the Red Hawks cleared the bases to make it 11-5. In the bottom of the sixth, Orozco notched a two-out, RBI single to score Lawrence and draw Ripon closer. Though Salem scored once more in the seventh, Anderson collected an RBI single and Lawrence reached on a fielder's choice to put two more runs on the board for Ripon in the bottom half. The tying run was on deck as Ripon grounded out to end the game.
Lawrence was 3-for-4 in the game, collecting two RBI and a run scored. Bauer, Anderson and Orozco all had multi-hit games (2-for-4) while Bauer also reached via walk.
On the mound, Berger took the loss in 0.2 innings of work, giving up four earned runs but only three hits.
Kenzie Pahang pitched 6.1 innings in relief, allowing nine hits and seven earned runs while striking out four.
NEXT UP: Ripon continues play on Tuesday (March 12) in Clermont against North Park at 3 p.m. CT and Northwestern (Minn.) at 5:30 p.m. CT.
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