FOND DU LAC, Wisconsin – The Ripon softball program wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule on Wednesday, falling in a pair of games at Marian.
Marian (16-18) took game one 5-2 and defeated Ripon (9-23) 9-1 in six innings in the nightcap.
The Red Hawks started strong in game one, getting on the board in the first inning.
Kayla Cruz doubled to lead off the game – her 14th double of the season – and two batters later,
Anna Bauer singled her home to put Ripon in front early.
Marian's big inning came in the fourth, where the Sabres plated four runs. The first four batters of the inning reached base, while all four runs came with less than two outs as Marian led 4-1 through the middle innings and into the sixth.
The Sabres plated one more in the sixth on an RBI groundout, but Ripon limited the damage and stranded two runners in scoring position to end the inning.
Ripon made a late push in the seventh. After
Abrianna Anderson reached first on an error, two consecutive groundouts moved the freshman to third. Cruz singled her home, and a subsequent
Savannah Barajas single brought the tying run to the plate with two outs. Unfortunately, a groundout ended the game in Marian's favor.
Cruz (2-for-4, RBI, run) and Bauer (2-for-3, RBI, walk) each had multi-hit days, while Barajas (1-for-4),
Hannah Vargas (1-for-3) and Anderson (1-for-3, run) all had base knocks as well.
In the circle,
Kalen Berger took the loss, pitching a complete game. She yielded nine hits and four earned runs.
In game two, Marian struck early and often, scoring seven times in the opening inning – including plating four runs with two outs. The Sabres scored once more in the second and led 8-0 heading into the third.
Ripon responded in the top of the third with a run. After Cruz walked and Barajas singled with one out,
Daniella Orozco reached on a fielder's choice that scored Cruz with the help of a throwing error.
Ripon starter
Kenzie Pahang held Marian without a hit in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but the Sabres ended the game via run-rule with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth.
Offensively, Barajas went 2-for-2 while Orozco, Bauer and
Hadley Berendsen each went 1-for-3.
Cruz's incredible 16-game hitting streak came to a close with a hitless outing in the afternoon finale, though she did walk twice and score once.
Pahang took the loss on the mound. The freshman pitched a complete game, giving up nine hits and five earned runs, though she struck out five.
NEXT UP: Ripon hosts Knox on Saturday, May 4 for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday's DH will also serve as Ripon's Strikeout Cancer games.
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