April 14, 2007

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

BELOIT, Wis. - Ripon made history Saturday afternoon, winning their 23rd consecutive Midwest Conference game. The Red Hawks defeated Beloit College 5-0 in game one, before defeating the Buccaneers 8-1 in the second game. The first win of the day broke the record, which was set by St. Norbert last season. Ripon hasn't lost a conference game since May 7, 2005.

Ripon (9-8, 6-0) jumped on Beloit (8-10, 2-2) early in game one, scoring three runs in the opening inning. Chevy Schultz continued his clutch hitting with an RBI double, scoring Chad Olson for the first run of the game. Schultz would later score on a passed ball. John Dunlavy's sac fly accounted for Ripon's other run in the inning. The Red Hawks added to their lead later in the game, scoring one run each in the fifth and sixth inning. Olson singled home Alex Duros in the fifth, and Dunlavy scored on an error in the sixth to cap the scoring.

Beloit couldn't get much going all game, as Jordan Baitinger and Bryant Bednarek combined to give up just six hits. Baitinger (3-1) pitched seven strong innings, giving up five hits, while striking out six. Olson led the Red Hawks at the plate, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Red Hawks struck first in the second game as well, scoring twice in the third inning. They would add one more run in the fifth on a Kyle McFarland single, which scored Olson from second base.

Ripon extended that lead even more in the seventh, scoring three runs on just one hit. Olson continued his great day at the plate with a 2 RBI single, which scored Nick Whitty and Bryant Bullock, both of whom walked to start the inning. Beloit got on the board for the first time all day with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but that would be all they would get, as the Ripon pitching staff closed out the game for the sweep.

Mike Lloyd (2-0) pitched seven innings of seven hit ball for the win, striking out four, while walking four. Olson led the team in hitting, getting three more hits, to go along with 2 RBI. McFarland drove in three runs in the game, while Bullock had 2 RBI.

Ripon and Beloit will do battle once again Sunday afternoon in Ripon. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Francis Field.