APPLETON, Wisconsin – Playing two days earlier than anticipated due to expected inclement weather this weekend, the Ripon softball program got solid pitching, timely defense and excellent hitting to help the Red Hawks sweep a doubleheader at Lawrence on Thursday afternoon at Whiting Field.
 
Ripon defeated the Vikings 2-1 in the opener before taking down Lawrence 9-5 in the afternoon finale.
 
Lawrence (13-17, 5-7 MWC) grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the second in game one, scoring the opening run on a two-out RBI single. Ripon (9-19, 3-7 MWC) punched back in the top of the third, however – after Kayla Cruz reached on an error and Hannah Vargas walked, Anna Bauer sent a drive into left field that was booted by the Vikings, scoring Cruz and tying the game at one apiece.
 
Ripon pulled in front for good in the top of the fifth. With runners on first and second, Hadley Berendsen sent a two-out double over the head of the left fielder, scoring Savannah Barajas, to give Ripon a 2-1 advantage, though runners were left at second and third to end the frame.
 
Lawrence put a runner in scoring position in the sixth on a one-out double, but Berger induced a groundout and flyout to escape trouble.
 
After Lawrence doubled with two outs in the seventh, the Vikings singled and tried to score the tying run at the plate, but the throw from Samantha Nicholson was right on the money to nab the runner at the plate and seal the Red Hawk victory.
 
Ripon had just five hits in the game, but made the most of them. Cruz (1-for-4, run), Barajas (1-for-4, run), Bauer (1-for-4), Berendsen (1-for-4, RBI) and Abrianna Anderson (1-for-3) all recorded base knocks.
 
Berger picked her fourth win of the season, throwing a complete game for the sixth time this season. She scattered nine hits and one earned run, striking out two with a pair of walks.
 
Lawrence again scored the opening run in game two, pulling ahead early in the bottom of the first. However, Ripon went ahead itself in the top of the third – Cruz laced an RBI double into right, scoring Anderson, and advanced to third on the throw home. With two outs, MariaFernanda Lerma singled Cruz home and just like that, Ripon was in front 2-1.
 
The Vikings tied the game quickly after on a solo homer in the bottom of the third, but a solo shot from Cruz gave Ripon a 3-2 advantage in the top of the fifth. Though three Red Hawks reached base via hit by pitch after that, a pair of flyouts ended the inning and Ripon maintained a 3-2 lead through four and a half innings.
 
Ripon extended its advantage in the top of the sixth. Three consecutive doubles by Barajas, Daniella Orozco and Lerma brought home four runs and opened up a 7-2 Red Hawk lead. Though the Vikings got one back in the bottom half, Ripon scored twice more in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Barajas connected on a two-run single and the Red Hawks headed into the bottom of the seventh with a 9-3 lead.
 
Lawrence had a pair of two-out, extra-base hits that brought home two in the bottom of the seventh, but Ripon starter Kenzie Pahang stranded a runner at third to end the game and preserve the 9-5 Ripon victory.
 
Cruz (3-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 run) and Barajas (3-for-4, 3 RBI, run) each had three-hit games, while Lerma (2-for-3, 2 RBI) also had a multi-hit outing. Orozco (1-for-5, 2 RBI, run), Bauer (1-for-3) and Maddie Hablewitz (1-for-4, 2 run) were in the hit column as well.
 
Pahang picked up her fourth win of the season in the circle. The freshman tossed a complete game, giving up just six hits and five earned runs. She also punched out two.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon is scheduled to host Beloit in a conference doubleheader on Sunday (April 28) beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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