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ORLANDO, Fla. - After outscoring opponents 41-2 through their first seven games, the Ripon's offense hit the skids on Thursday. The Red Hawks dropped their first two contests of the season, getting swept by Avila University (KS). Avila managed to squeak out a 1-0 victory in game one, before winning the second game 3-1.
The lone run in game one came early, with Avila scoring in the bottom of the first inning. The first two batters of the inning got out, before Avila singled to leftfield. The runner would then advance to second on a passed ball, before scoring on an error. Ripon avoided even more damage, getting the third out with two runners on base. Avila would hold that lead the rest of the game, allowing four Ripon hits, but scattering them through seven innings.
Despite the loss, Ripon's Jen Mueller pitched six strong innings, giving up six hits, while striking out four. The only run scored was unearned. Avila's pitcher matched that performance however, pitching a complete game four-hitter, while striking out 10 Red Hawk batters.
Unlike the first game, the scoring in the second game came at the end. Avila took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on an RBI single, which is where the game would stay until the seventh inning. In the final frame, Avila got two more runs in the top half of the inning thanks to a couple Red Hawk miscues in the field. Ripon tried to mount a comeback, scoring their first run on a one-out single by Joelle Shady, but the final two batters couldn't reach base, completing the sweep for Avila.
The Red Hawks managed three hits in the second game, two of which came from Natalie Geenen. Avila was able to record five hits off Andrea Knorr, who pitched all seven innings, striking out four.
Ripon will now return home with a 7-2 record in tact. Their next contest will be the 2007 home opener against UW-Stevens Point on March 29. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 3:00 p.m. EST at Tracy Field.
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