AUBURNDALE, Florida – The Ripon baseball program used a seven-run fifth inning in game one on Sunday to defeat Southern Maine 9-7 at Lake Myrtle Park, though the Red Hawks dropped their second game of the day 9-0 to SUNY Brockport.
 
Southern Maine (2-6) got to work in the first inning against Ripon (3-5) starter Mitchell Lukasik, scoring a run in the top of the first on an RBI single. Then, the Huskies doubled their lead with a run-scoring fielder's choice in the third, though Lukasik stranded runners at second and third to end the frame.
 
USM added a run on a solo homer in the top of the fourth, but Ripon pushed back in the bottom half. With runners on first and second and two outs, Gabriel Zielinski and Owen Gerhardt contributed consecutive RBI singles to bring the Red Hawks within 3-2, though a groundout ended the inning with runners on the corners.
 
The Huskies put the first two runners on base in the fifth, scoring another run on a Ripon infield error. Then, they added a fifth on a sacrifice fly to lead 5-2 halfway through the game.
 
Ripon made a move in the bottom half, as the first three batters reached base. Chase Hanselman singled home Brock Warren to cut the deficit to 5-3. Moments later, a USM balk brought home Jack Anderson as the Red Hawks inched closer. The Red Hawks broke the game open with three consecutive extra-base hits: Evan Olson doubled home two runs before Jason Clark doubled and Zielinski tripled as Ripon scored six runs before an out was recorded. Gerhardt brought home a seventh run on an RBI groundout, and Ripon led 9-5 after five complete.
 
Southern Maine made things interesting in the ninth – using a two-out, two-run triple to cut its deficit in half – but Ripon reliever Rex Bayer induced a game-ending flyout to give Ripon the win.
 
Zielinski had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Warren (1x4, run, walk, stolen base), Hanselman (1x5, RBI, run), Olson (1x4, 2 RBI, 2 run), Clark (1x3, RBI, 2 run) and Gerhardt (1x3, 2 RBI) also recorded base hits.
 
Lukasik got the win on the mound, tossing five complete innings. Across 95 pitches, he scattered seven hits, five runs (three earned) and struck out six.
 
In the afternoon finale, SUNY Brockport (10-1) threatened in the top of the second, loading the bases with one out against Ripon starter Matt Miller. The Eagles cleared the bases with a three-run double, taking a 3-0 lead through an inning and a half.
 
Holding Ripon to one hit in the first four innings, Brockport padded its lead to 5-0 with a two-run single in the top of the fifth. The Eagles added three more in the sixth, going in front 8-0 through five and a half innings.
 
SUNY Brockport tacked on another run in the eighth, holding Ripon scoreless as the Red Hawks were shut out for the first time this season.
 
Anderson and Hickman combined to tally Ripon's three hits, while they, Warren and Alex Ramus reached base via walk.
 
Miller took the loss, going 5.1 innings on the mound in his first career start. He gave up six hits and eight earned runs but struck out seven.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon faces Rutgers-Camden on Monday, March 17 at 12:30 p.m. CT.
 
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