MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – The Ripon softball program scored early and often in the opening game on Sunday as the Red Hawks split a doubleheader with Cornell at Van Metre Family Softball Field.
In the opener, Ripon run-ruled Cornell 9-1 in five innings, though the Rams won the second game 12-4 in five innings.
After a scoreless first half inning in game one for Ripon (3-17, 1-5 MWC), Cornell (11-10, 5-3 MWC) drew first blood in the bottom of the first with a pair of two-out hits to grab an early 1-0 lead.
Ripon also claimed an early lead in the top of the second, one that it wouldn't relinquish. After
Abrianna Anderson and
Hadley Berendsen reached base to open the inning,
Kayla Cruz reached on a two-out error to score both Anderson and Berendsen.
The Red Hawks added to their lead in the fourth – Berendsen singled to open the inning and, after a Cornell error, Ripon had runners at the corners with nobody out.
Sydney Swanson reached on a fielder's choice to make it a 3-1 game, but the Red Hawks weren't done. As Ripon continued to put pressure on the bases, the runs soon followed.
Savannah Barajas doubled home Cruz and Swanson as Ripon increased its advantage. With runners on second and third,
Hannah Vargas drove home a run on an RBI groundout and
Samantha Nicholson put the exclamation point on the inning with a two-out two-run homer as Ripon scored six runs in the inning.
One more run followed in the top of the fifth as Cruz continued her hot weekend with a two-out, RBI single that scored
Maddie Hablewitz.
Ripon pitcher
Kenzie Pahang pitched a perfect bottom of the fifth as the Red Hawks won via run rule for the first time this season.
Pahang got the victory in the circle, pitching a complete game while giving up only six hits and just one earned run.
Offensively, Nicholson went 2-for-3 with two RBI, a home run and a run scored. Cruz went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while
Anna Bauer also had a multi-hit game (2-for-4, run). Barajas (1-for-3, 2 RBI, run), Anderson (1-for-3, run), Berendsen (1-for-2, 2 run, walk) and
MariaFernanda Lerma (1-for-1) also recorded hits.
Cornell put up a four-spot in the opening inning of game two, aided by three hits and a pair of Ripon errors. The Red Hawks answered with two runs of their own in the top of the second, cutting their deficit in half thanks to RBI singles by Cruz and Barajas.
Ripon shrunk its deficit even more in the top of the third, loading the bases with one out and producing a run via sacrifice fly by Anderson. However, the Red Hawks stranded the go-ahead run on first in the inning.
Cornell took advantage in the bottom of the fourth, plating six – and five with less than two outs – to break the game open.
Trailing by seven in the top of the fifth, Ripon continued to battle and once again found a way to manufacture a run. Nicholson doubled with one out and Berendsen moved her over on a single before Anderson brought home a run on a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the fifth, a double steal and an RBI double, both with one out, ended the game in favor of the Rams.
Offensively, Cruz had another multi-hit game – her fourth in four games over the weekend. The sophomore went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Berendsen also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Anderson drove in two runs, while Barajas,
Daniella Orozco, Lerma and Nicholson also recorded hits.
Kalen Berger took the loss in the circle for Ripon. She pitched 3.2 innings and gave up eight hits with seven earned runs.
NEXT UP: Ripon hosts Maranatha Baptist in a doubleheader on Tuesday (April 16) beginning at 3 p.m.
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.
