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RIPON, Wis. – The Red Hawks remains one game ahead of St. Norbert in the Midwest Conference North Division standings after Ripon's latest wins, a doubleheader sweep against Beloit College. Ripon won the first game 11-1, before winning game two, 6-5.
The Red Hawks (23-4, 11-1 MWC) wasted no time, opening the scoring in the bottom of the first when Matt Dwyer crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Alex Duros. They would build on their lead the following inning, with five more runs, the first of which scored on a Nick Whitty double to left. Dwyer and Duros also had RBIs in the inning, while Nate Paul drove in two runs with a single to left, putting Ripon up 6-0 after two innings.
Beloit (16-16, 5-11 MWC) finally got on the board, thanks to an RBI double in the fifth inning, but that's the only run they would score all game. Ripon would score five more times to put the game away, winning 11-1 in eight innings.
Freshman Jason Wierschke (4-0) pitched a masterful game, allowing just one run on six hits, while striking out four Beloit batters. Paul finished the game 4-for-5 at the plate, with three RBI. Duros and Whitty also chipped in with three RBI apiece. Dwyer and Scott Gillespie accounted for the other runs batted in. Dwyer also scored three times.
The second game was much closer from the start, with Beloit getting on the board first on a sac fly in the opening inning. That lead would be short-lived, as Ripon crossed the plate three times in the bottom of that inning. Duros drove Dwyer home for their first run, while Mac Shumann drove in the other two runs with a double to center field.
Ripon added to their lead in the following innings, scoring one run in each of the next three frames, to take a 6-1 lead. That lead looked safe until the seventh inning, when Beloit crossed the plate three times. The Buccaneers loaded the bases with no outs, which led to a runs on a fielder's choice, and two singles. Beloit added another run in the eighth, thanks to another RBI single, but it wouldn't be enough, as Ripon hung on for the 6-5 victory.
Duros led all hitters in the second game with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, while also driving in two runs and scoring another. Paul and Shumann each finished the game with two hits apiece. Adam Linsmeyer (4-0) got credit for the win, allowing no earned runs, while pitching into the seventh inning. Bryant Bullock came on for the save, his second of the season.
The Red Hawks will finish their schedule this week, with arguably their toughest games of the season. They will face UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m., in a rematch of last year's NCAA Midwest Regional. They will then face St. Norbert next weekend in a four game series, which will determine the MWC North Division champion.
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