KISSIMMEE, Florida – The Ripon softball program finished up its week in Florida against Hamline and Loras, falling 11-8 and 5-3 to the Pipers and Duhawks, respectively, at Fortune Road Park on Friday.
 
In a wild opener against Hamline (8-4), there were a total of just three half innings where runs were not scored. Ripon (2-10) wasted no time getting in the score column as Kayla Cruz singled home Mikaela Lawrence with two outs in the first to give Ripon an early lead. The run was matched by Hamline in the bottom half, though, as the Pipers also scored via a two-out, run-scoring single. The Red Hawks countered with a big top of the third, scoring four times. A two-run double by Cruz scored Anna Bauer and Nadiyah Huizar as Ripon stayed in business with no one out. Three batters later, Savannah Barajas reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Cruz, to make it a 4-1 game. Two batters after that, Hadley Berendsen produced a run on an RBI groundout and Ripon led 5-1 after two and a half innings.
 
Hamline halved its deficit in the bottom of the third with an RBI single and an RBI groundout, though Ripon would strand two runners after that to keep it 5-3.
 
The Pipers took the lead for the first time on Friday with a three-run bottom of the fourth, scoring on a two-run single and an RBI double to lead 6-5 with the later innings yet to be played. Ripon wasn't trailing for long, reclaiming the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Abrianna Anderson led off the inning with a single and tied the game moments later, scoring on an RBI by Lawrence. On the next batter, Bauer reached on a two-out Hamline error as Maddie Hablewitz scored, putting Ripon in front 7-6.
 
A critical four-run bottom of the fifth put Hamline in front for good. The Pipers scored twice to take the lead with nobody out and added two more in the inning to go ahead 10-7, taking advantage of two wild pitches and a passed ball by Ripon in the inning.
 
Barajas inched Ripon closer with an RBI groundout in the top of the sixth, but Hamline would tack on a final run in the bottom of the sixth. The Red Hawks mustered traffic on the bases in the seventh, but couldn't capitalize and dropped game one on Friday.
 
Cruz was 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, while Lawrence (2-for-5, RBI, run), Huizar (2-for-5, run) and MariaFernanda Lerma (2-for-4, two runs) all had multi-hit outings.
 
Kenzie Pahang got the start in the circle, taking the loss. She tossed 4+ innings, surrendering 11 hits and nine earned runs. Kalen Berger pitched 2+ innings in relief, giving up three hits and two earned runs.

Loras (9-4) caused commotion on the basepaths all afternoon in the finale, stealing two bases in the opening inning. A two-run, bunt single got Loras on the board in the opening frame and the Duhawks scored again on a double steal in the top of the second to lead 3-0.
 
Ripon held Loras at bay for the foreseeable future and cut its deficit considerably in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Lawrence was hit by a pitch and Abrianna Anderson added an RBI single on the next at-bat to make it a 3-2 game. However, a lineout double play cut Ripon's rally short in the inning.
 
The Red Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, creating momentum for the final few innings. With two outs, Samantha Nicholson doubled into the left-center gap to score Jayden Markus and Ripon drew even for the first time since the first inning.
 
Loras put pressure on the Red Hawks in the top of the sixth. After two quick outs, a walk and a single put runners at second and third. On the next at-bat, the Duhawks laced a go-ahead, two-run single to put Loras up for good.
 
Ripon's last six batters were retired to end the game.
 
Lawrence (2-for-3, RBI), Anderson (2-for-4, RBI) and Hannah Vargas (2-for-4, run) each had multi-hit games, while Daniella Orozco and Nicholson each recorded base knocks as well.
 
In the circle, Berger took the loss, pitching all seven innings. She gave up eight hits and five earned runs while walking three.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon hosts Concordia University Wisconsin on Wednesday, March 20 at 3 and 5 p.m. Wednesday's games will also serve as Ripon's Strikeout Cancer games.
 
FOLLOW: Follow Ripon College Red Hawks Athletics on Facebook and @RiponRedHawks on Twitter for immediate updates, results and more. Go to riponredhawks.com for all information, releases and schedules.