CLERMONT, Florida – The Ripon softball program fell 9-6 to Eastern Connecticut State on a late rally before the Red Hawks dropped a 5-1 contest to Hamline on Wednesday at Hancock Park.
A flurry of runs scored in the first inning of game one, as the teams each scored two. Ripon (1-7) took an early lead on a pair of run-scoring hits, as
Maddie Heisler doubled home
Ashlyn Schultz before
Arianna Alirez scored Heisler on a single. In the bottom half of the first, Eastern Connecticut State (2-2) tied the game with an RBI single and a sacrifice bunt.
Ripon responded in the second, scoring three more runs to take a 5-2 lead. With the bases loaded and two outs,
Karissa Jenz scored on a passed ball before Heisler drove home two more with a single.
The score remained 5-2 Ripon until the Warriors led off the fifth with a solo home run. Then, an RBI double shaved the lead to 5-4 with one out. With two outs, a Ripon error plated the tying run as the teams headed to the sixth even at five apiece.
The Red Hawks pulled back in front there.
Nadiyah Huizar doubled with one out before Schultz singled her home, giving Ripon a 6-5 edge. ECSU tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the frame and scored three more runs to lead 9-6.
Ripon went down in order in the seventh to drop game one.
Schultz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk, while Heisler went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run. Alirez,
Maddie Hablewitz and Huizar each recorded hits as well.
Alayna Sadowska got the start for Ripon, tossing five innings while allowing seven hits and five earned runs.
Brooklyn Cooper got the loss, pitching one inning in relief. She gave up five hits and three earned runs.
In game two, Hamline (6-4) struck first with a three-run top of the first. The Pipers extended their lead to 4-0 on an RBI double in the second, but Ripon starter
Ashlynn Donahue stranded a runner on second to end the inning. Ripon made noise in the third – putting the first two runners on base – but was retired in order after that to end the threat.
The Red Hawks scratched a run across in the bottom of the fourth when
Jayden Markus scored on a passed ball with two outs. However, the Pipers added an insurance run in the sixth to lead 5-1. Ripon threatened in the bottom of the seventh, as runners were at second and third with one out. However, a groundout and an out at home ended the game.
Huizar was the only Red Hawk with multiple hits, going 2-for-3. Heisler,
Kayla Cruz and Sadowska also recorded hits for Ripon. On the mound, Donahue took the loss – she went 6.0 innings, giving up 12 hits and five runs (three earned). Cooper pitched one hitless inning in relief.
NEXT UP: Ripon continues its Florida trip on Thursday, March 20 with games against Smith (1 p.m. CT) and Salem State (3:15 p.m. CT).
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.
