MONMOUTH, Ill. -- The Ripon College baseball team dropped the final game of its weekend series at Monmouth, falling 7-3 on Sunday afternoon.

Ripon struck first in the opening inning, jumping out to a 2-0 lead behind a two-RBI double from sophomore Alex Ramus (Appleton, Wis., Appleton North HS) that scored senior Jack Anderson (Oconomowoc, Wis., Oconomowoc HS) and graduate student Gabriel Kennedy (DeForest, Wis., Northwestern St. Paul). However, Monmouth responded immediately with a four-run bottom half, highlighted by a three-run home run that quickly swung the momentum.

The Fighting Scots added to their lead with single runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings to build a 7-2 advantage.

Ripon chipped away in the sixth inning, as Kennedy and junior Crete Slattery (Lake Geneva, Wis., Badger HS) delivered back-to-back hits before Ramus drove in his third run of the day with an RBI single to make it 7-3. That would be as close as the Red Hawks would get, as Monmouth held Ripon scoreless over the final three innings.

Ramus led the offense with two hits and three RBI, while Anderson added a pair of hits and a run scored. Kennedy also crossed the plate twice for Ripon.

On the mound, junior Matt Miller (Orland Park, Ill., Carl Sandburg HS) took the loss after allowing six runs over five innings of work. Sophomore Ryan Splitt (Bolingbrook, Ill., Bolingbrook HS) provided relief, giving up just one run (unearned) over the final three innings.

Ripon (2-14) went 1-2 in the three-game set after splitting a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Red Hawks return to action Wednesday, Apr 1, traveling to face Marian University with first pitch set for 3pm.