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RIPON, Wis. - The much anticipated match up between Midwest Conference powers St. Norbert and Ripon certainly lived up to its billing Friday afternoon. Game one was an intense battle that St. Norbert eventually won in a pitcher's duel, 1-0 in 11 innings. The Red Hawks got revenge in the second game, coming from behind to win 7-5.
St. Norbert was able to get good wood on the ball in the opening inning, recording three hits in the frame, but weren't able to score. After that, Ripon pitcher Jordan Baitinger settled into a groove, allowing just two hits in the next nine innings. He left the game after the 10th, allowing just five hits, while striking out seven.
The Red Hawks also got the majority of their hits early, hitting safely in each of the first four innings. St. Norbert starter Alex Byrne left the game with an injury in the fifth after allowing four hits. Luke Wissbroecker did just fine filling in for Byrne. Wissbroecker pitched the rest of the game, allowing just one more Red Hawk hit in the contest.
The two teams battled each other into extra frames, with neither school giving an inch. Finally, in the 11th inning, St. Norbert got on the board. The Green Knight's leading hitter, Adam Frost, got them started with a one-out single. Frost then stole second base and advanced to third on a Brian Perszyk single. Frost would score one batter later on a sacrifice fly by Dan Weitzel. Ripon made things interesting in the bottom of the inning. After two quick outs, John Dunlavy smashed the ball to deep left field, but with the wind blowing in, St. Norbert's left fielder was able to catch up to the ball on the warning track, securing the victory, and ending Ripon's 19-game home conference win streak.
Game two featured more runs in the first inning than were scored in all of game one. St. Norbert's Frost was able to get on base thanks to a Ripon error to lead off the game. He would later score on a sac fly by Weitzel. Ripon had an answer in the bottom of the inning, as their leadoff man, Chad Olson also led the inning off by getting on base with a walk. Olson then advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a double by Kyle McFarland down the right field line.
St. Norbert took the lead back in the third, thanks to another RBI by Weitzel. He grounded out to short, which allowed Byrne to score from third. Ripon would then tie the game the following inning, as Dunlavy scored on an Alex Duros single.
The Red Hawks took the largest lead of the day in the bottom of the seventh scoring two more runs for a 4-2 lead. The inning was led off with a home run by Olson, his second of the season. After the next two batters got out, Dunlavy singled, which was followed by Chevy Schultz driving a double to right, which scored Dunlavy.
St. Norbert wouldn't quit, as they snatched the lead right back in the top of the eighth. The first two batters of the inning recorded outs, but that was followed by four singles and an error, giving the Green Knights a 5-4 lead. That lead would change hands once again in the bottom of that inning. Once again, the first two batters of the inning recorded outs, but Nick Whitty started the Ripon rally by reaching on an error by the St. Norbert second baseman. After an Olson single, McFarland drove in two runs with a single of his own. The Red Hawks tacked on an insurance run on another Green Knight miscue in the field, taking a 7-5 lead.
That lead would be safe this time, as Bryant Bednarek shut down St. Norbert in the ninth, earning his third win of the season. McFarland led Ripon with three hits and three RBI. Olson, Dunlavy, and Duros also had multi-hit games, each recording two hits.
The two teams will do battle once again Saturday afternoon at St. Norbert in the final doubleheader of the regular season. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in De Pere. Whoever sweeps the twin bill will earn the right to host the conference tournament next weekend. If the two teams split, there will be a one-game playoff at Ripon on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
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