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CLEREMONT, Fla. - The Red Hawks played two thrilling games Tuesday, both of which were decided in the final inning. The first game of the day took extra innings to decide, with Ripon coming out on the short-end of things, losing 5-4 in nine innings to Penn State-Behrend. In the day's second game, Ripon was the team with the late inning heroics, defeating Westfield State (MA) 6-1, with all six runs coming in the final two innings.
Ripon began the day well, scoring a run in the top of the first to take the early lead. An Ashley Kirst walk led to the run, which was batted in by Krista Shafer, who reached base on an error. The Lions tied the game two innings later, when a single to center field scored PSU-Behrend's first run of the game.
The two teams remained deadlocked for the next four innings, until Ripon posted three runs in the top of the eighth. They broke the 1-1 tie on an error by the PSU-Behrend pitcher, allowing Mary Friend and Natalie Geenen to cross the plate. Shafer added the third run of the inning on a ground out by Jackie Reichhart, seemingly putting the game away.
PSU-Behrend wouldn't go away, however. They matched the Red Hawks with three runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth. They scored the first two runs on a single to left, then promptly loaded the bases with one out. Ripon was able to send it to a ninth inning, thanks to a pair of pop ups in the infield. That would only delay the inevitable, as PSU-Behrend played small-ball, using a sacrifice and a fielder's choice to drive home the winning run.
Shafer led all players with three hits in the game, while Andrea Knorr added two more. Knorr (2-2) also took the loss on the mound, giving up just two earned runs, while striking out five and walking two. Those five strikeouts give Knorr 105 punch outs for her career, which moves her into third place in school history.
Ripon's second game of the day didn't feature much offense early on, as both team's bats seemed to be asleep. The Red Hawk's bats finally awoke in the top of the sixth inning. Shafer started things off with a lead-off single, which was followed by an RBI triple to left by Jessica Goudreau, giving Ripon a 1-0 lead. Goudreau was driven home on the next at-bat, an RBI single by Bethany Mehlberg, who would later score on a passed ball, giving the Red Hawks a 3-0 lead.
Westfield State got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a single to center field. That was then answered by three more runs from the Red Hawks in the top of the seventh. Goudreau drove in the first run of the inning, while Mehlberg added the other two RBI, on a single to left centerfield. Ripon then shut down Westfield State in the bottom of the inning to clinch the victory.
Mehlberg led the Red Hawks in the second game of the day, with three hits, to go along with three RBI, and a run scored. Goudreau and Geenen also had multi-hit games, notching two hits apiece. Freshman pitcher Brittnee Peotter shut down the opposition, pitching a complete game six-hitter, for her second win in as many starts. Peotter struck out five batters on the day.
Ripon will continue their spring trip tomorrow, with a pair of games against The College of New Jersey, who defeated the Red Hawks 2-0 on Monday. Tomorrow's doubleheader will begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT at the National Training Center in Cleremont, Fla.
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