GRINNELL, Iowa – Playing its fifth and sixth consecutive Midwest Conference games on the road, the Ripon softball program fell to Grinnell 10-0 and 21-1, both in five innings, on Saturday afternoon at the Grinnell Softball Complex.
After Ripon (5-19, 1-7 MWC) was held scoreless in the opening half inning of game one, Grinnell (17-13, 6-2 MWC) put up three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first – with two outs, two RBI singles and an RBI double put the hosts up 3-0 after one inning of play.
Two more runs came home in the bottom of the second on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly. Ripon pitched a perfect third, but Grinnell broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with five more runs. After Ripon pitcher
Kalen Berger retired the first two batters on groundouts, a pair of RBI singles and a pair of RBI doubles allowed the Pioneers to plate five with two outs.
Ripon was retired in order in the fifth as the Red Hawks dropped game one.
The Red Hawks were slowed offensively, though
Kayla Cruz,
Hannah Vargas and
Samantha Nicholson each tallied one hit in two at-bats.
Berger took the loss in the circle, pitching 3.2 innings while giving up 10 hits and 10 earned runs.
In game two, Grinnell took an early 2-0 lead after the first inning after stranding two Red Hawks in scoring position in the top half of the inning. Ripon again put a runner at third in the second inning, but was unable to capitalize as the Pioneers responded with four more runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 6-0 through two complete.
Eight more runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the third for Grinnell to break the game open. Ripon got one back in the top of the fourth, however – after
Anna Bauer reached on an error and
Abrianna Anderson singled to move her over,
Hadley Berendsen connected on an RBI single up the middle to get Ripon on the board. Unfortunately, two runners would be stranded in the inning.
Grinnell scored seven more runs in the bottom of the fourth and, though Ripon put two runners on base in the top of the fifth, a game-ending double play gave the Pioneers the victory.
Cruz (1-for-3),
Daniella Orozco (1-for-2),
MariaFernanda Lerma (1-for-2), Anderson (1-for-1) and Berendsen (1-for-2, RBI) all recorded hits for the Red Hawks.
In the circle,
Kenzie Pahang took the loss after 2.2 innings of work. She yielded nine hits and 12 earned runs.
NEXT UP: Ripon returns home to host Mount Mary on Tuesday (April 23) for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
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