RIPON, Wisconsin – The Ripon baseball program got a complete game, three-hit shutout from Mitchell Lukasik and saw its second-inning run hold up in a 1-0 victory over Monmouth on Saturday afternoon at Francis Field.
 
Ripon (17-22, 10-11 MWC) put pressure on Monmouth (17-20, 12-9 MWC) early in the first inning, loading the bases with one out. However, Monmouth starter Toby Turnquist wiggled his way out of any damage by inducing a fielder's choice and a strikeout.
 
With two on and two outs in the second, Ripon scored the only run of the game on an RBI single by Alex Pankratz. However, runners were stranded at the corners to end the inning.
 
On the mound, Lukasik was dominant in the opening innings. In his final start as a Red Hawk, the senior was perfect through five innings and needed just 56 pitches to do so. The Scots put a runner at second with one out in the sixth after their first hit, but Lukasik was aided by an interference call and a lineout to escape unscathed.
 
Monmouth put pressure on Ripon in the seventh, as two runners were on base with one out. However, a strikeout and pickoff preserved Ripon's lead.
 
Chase Hanselman singled and stole second to put himself at second with nobody out in the eighth – and Ripon had runners at the corners with two outs – but the Red Hawks were unable to cash in. The Scots then put the first two runners on base in the ninth, but a 5-3 double play put the tying run at second with two outs. Facing Raul Guillermo – one of Monmouth's best hitters – Lukasik induced a game-ending flyout to secure the sixth complete game performance of his career.
 
Hanselman (2x4) and Mason Schoenke (2x4, run) combined for four of Ripon's seven hits. Jason Clark (1x3, walk), Pankratz (1x4, RBI) and Jack Anderson (1x2, 2 walks) also had base knocks.
 
Lukasik struck out six, allowing just two walks. He produced six three-up, three-down innings in the game.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon heads to UW-Whitewater on Tuesday, May 6 for its season finale. First pitch against the Warhawks is slated for 2 p.m.
 
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