MONMOUTH, Ill. -- The Ripon College baseball team split a doubleheader on the road Saturday, falling in the opener 11-8 before bouncing back with an 8-0 shutout victory over Monmouth.

Game 1: Monmouth 11, Ripon 8

Ripon appeared in control after a massive fourth inning but couldn't hold off a late Monmouth rally in the opener.

Trailing 3-1, the Red Hawks erupted for six runs in the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. A sacrifice fly by freshman Raidan Shibayama (Honolulu, Hawaii, Punahou School) started the inning before senior Jack Anderson (Oconomowoc, Wis., Oconomowoc HS) launched a go-ahead grand slam to right. Graduate student Gabriel Kennedy (DeForest, Wis., Northwestern St. Paul) followed with a solo home run later in the frame to cap the surge.

Ripon added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from senior Kyler Hickman (Tracy, Calif., Merrill F. West HS) to extend the lead to 8-3.

Monmouth chipped away with three runs in the sixth before completing the comeback in the seventh, scoring four runs to reclaim a 9-8 lead. The hosts added insurance to secure the win.

Anderson led Ripon with four RBI, while Kennedy finished with two hits and an RBI. Sophomore Alex Ramus (Appleton, Wis., Appleton North HS) also added a pair of hits in the loss.

Game 2: Ripon 8, Monmouth 0

Ripon responded in dominant fashion in game two, using a complete team effort to even the series.

The Red Hawks struck first in the second inning, taking advantage of a Monmouth error to grab an early lead. Ripon steadily added on, scoring twice in the sixth and once in the seventh before breaking the game open late.

Kennedy highlighted the offense with three hits, including a solo home run, while freshman Nolan Hollander (Crystal Lake, Ill., Crystal Lake Central) recorded three hits of his own and capped the scoring with a home run in the ninth. Freshman Trey Page (Land O Lakes, Fla., Land O Lakes HS) and Ramus each drove in runs as part of a 12-hit attack.

On the mound, freshman Griffin Jens (New London, Wis., Hortonville HS) delivered a standout performance, tossing eight shutout innings while allowing just seven hits and striking out seven. Freshman Cade Johnson (Bonduel, Wis., Bonduel HS) closed out the game to complete the shutout.

Ripon will return to action Sunday with the rubber match against Monmouth, with first pitch scheduled for noon.