FOND DU LAC, Wisconsin – The Ripon baseball program rallied from an eighth-inning deficit to post a 5-4 win at Marian on Thursday afternoon at Herr-Baker Field.
 
Ripon (9-12) struck first in the opening half inning, plating a run without even recording a hit. Owen Gerhardt and Chase Hanselman walked to open the game, and a double steal scored Gerhardt moments later. Marian (12-11) responded in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs off of Ripon starter Jacob Riddick.
 
The Red Hawks were not down for long, as a wild pitch scored Brock Peterson and knotted the score at two apiece following an inning and a half. Ripon then took the 3-2 lead in the third on a two-out, RBI single by Alex Pankratz.
 
Marian tied the game at three on a sacrifice fly in the fourth and took the lead on a two-out double steal in the sixth. However, Ripon pulled in front for good in the eighth. With runners on first and second, consecutive wild pitches scored Evan Olson to tie the game at four. Two batters later, Pankratz delivered the go-ahead run with an RBI single down the left field line.
 
In a game that featured just eight total hits, Ripon had six of them – and Pankratz had two himself (2x4, 2 RBI). Jason Clark, Kyler Hickman, Gerhardt and Peterson also recorded base hits.
 
Riddick was solid on the mound for Ripon, throwing five complete innings though he took the no-decision. Across 79 pitches he allowed just two hits and three earned runs. Adam Mellema got the win on the mound – pitching two innings without allowing a hit – and Orion Rieden tossed a perfect ninth to get the save. David Neal Hickman threw a perfect eighth to help Ripon's cause as the final eight Sabres were retired.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon re-enters Midwest Conference action on Saturday, April 12. The Red Hawks' home doubleheader against Beloit kicks off at noon.
 
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