RIPON, Wisconsin – The Ripon baseball program overcame a four-run deficit in the afternoon finale on Saturday, rallying to defeat Beloit 7-6 at Francis Field.
 
In game one, the Buccaneers (15-10, 4-4 MWC) defeated the Red Hawks (10-13, 5-3 MWC) 10-5.
 
Beloit got the scoring going early in game one, scoring three runs in the top of the third. However, Ripon responded in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by David Kleier. The Red Hawk deficit was extended to 5-1 in the fourth as the Bucs connected on a two-run homer. The score remained that way until the sixth, when three more runs crossed home for the opposition.
 
Ripon made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four times. Jason Clark singled home Chase Hanselman, and Kyler Hickman plated Evan Olson with an RBI single on the next at-bat. Moments later, Alex Pankratz ripped a two-run double to right field and the Red Hawks were within three.
 
Beloit added single runs in the seventh and ninth innings, eliminating any hope of a comeback. Ripon did not put a runner past first base for the final three innings in dropping game one.
 
Kleier was the only Red Hawk with multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Hanselman, Olson, Clark and Hickman each went 1-for-4 with a run scored, while Clark and Hickman each had an RBI as well. Pankratz (1x3, 2 RBI, walk) and Jack Anderson (1x4) recorded base knocks as well.
 
Blaine Wahlen took the loss on the mound, going six innings. He allowed eight hits and seven earned runs, though he punched out five.
 
Beloit came out strong in game two, putting up four runs in the third inning against Ripon starter Mitchell Lukasik. However, Ripon countered with three of its own in the bottom of the third. Olson singled home two, and Clark also recorded an RBI single on the next at-bat. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat with runners on base.
 
Ripon evened the score in the fourth, as Anderson led off the inning with a double and Eli DiCarlo brought him home on a sacrifice bunt two batters later. An RBI double by Beloit gave the visitors a 5-4 lead in the sixth, but it would be short-lived as Pankratz scored on an error to even the score in the bottom of the sixth.
 
With two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, Anderson recorded the game-winning, two-run single to right field with two outs. The Bucs fashioned together a rally in the top of the ninth, scoring once and putting runners at the corners with one out. However, Orion Rieden induced a game-ending double play to secure the win for Ripon.
 
Pankratz had a three-hit day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Clark (2x4, RBI, run) and Anderson (2x3, 2 RBI, run) also had multi-hit games while Owen Gerhardt, Hanselman and Olson produced base hits as well.
 
Lukasik got the no-decision on the mound, firing 5.1 innings worth of work. He allowed seven hits and two earned runs. Rieden got the win – his second of the season – by throwing the final 2.2 innings while giving up three hits and one run.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon closes its series with Beloit on Sunday, April 13. First pitch from Beloit is set for noon.
 
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