KENOSHA, Wisconsin – The Ripon baseball program stepped out of Midwest Conference play on Thursday afternoon, falling 10-7 to Carthage at Augie Schmidt Field.
 
Carthage (13-7) got on the board early, using back-to-back homers in the first inning to pull in front 4-0. The Firebirds again used the long ball in the second, as a two-run shot extended the lead to 6-0. Moments later, a third run scored in the inning on a sacrifice fly.
 
Ripon (6-10) got on the board in the fourth, as Evan Olson brought home Jack Anderson with a sacrifice fly. The Red Hawks then threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with nobody out. However, three consecutive strikeouts ended the inning.
 
Carthage went up 8-1 in the bottom half of the inning, belting its fourth home run of the day.
 
The Red Hawks cashed in on runners at second and third with one out in the sixth. Kyler Hickman's third hit of the day produced a run on a single before Chase Hanselman made the score 8-3 after coming home on a passed ball.
 
Trailing 9-3 in the seventh, Owen Gerhardt cut into the deficit after a steal of home. Hanselman then singled to score Anderson, and Olson scored on a passed ball to make the score 9-6. The Red Hawks even put the tying run on base in the frame, but a flyout stranded three Red Hawks.
 
The Firebirds tacked on one insurance run in the eighth to lead 10-6, but Griffin Klein stranded the bases loaded to keep it a four-run margin. Ripon made things interesting in the ninth, as an RBI single by Hanselman brought the Red Hawks within three. However, the next three batters were retired as the Red Hawks fell 10-7.
 
Olson had a perfect day offensively, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, walk and three runs scored. Hickman was also efficient at the plate, as the junior was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. Hanselman had a multi-hit outing as well, going 3-for-5 with two runs driven in and a run scored.
 
Adam Mellema got the start and took the loss on the mound, pitching two innings. He allowed seven hits and seven earned runs. Caleb Mammoser, Antonio DeBartolo and Klein worked a combined six innings out of the bullpen.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon hosts Cornell for a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday (April 5-6). Saturday's doubleheader at Francis Field begins at noon.
 
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