April 19, 2008

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

BELOIT, Wis. - After a few rainout's and postponements, Ripon finally played their first conference games of the season Saturday, sweeping their two-game series at Beloit College. The Red Hawks didn't allow a run all day, winning the first game 5-0 and the second game 4-0.

The Red Hawks (11-9, 2-0) got the day started off right, scoring two runs in the first inning of game one. Krista Shafer drove in the first run, an RBI single, which scored Natalie Geenen, who had reached base with a lead-off single. Jackie Reichhart then drove home Shafer with a double in the very next at-bat.

Ripon wouldn't score again until the final inning, putting three insurance runs up on the board. Bethany Mehlberg singled home Andrea Knorr for the first run of the inning, while Mary Friend capped the scoring with a two-RBI double with two outs.

Beloit (5-22, 0-6) managed just two hits all game against Knorr, who went the full seven innings, striking out six batters in the process. Geenen and Shafer continued their outstanding seasons, each recording two hits. One of Geenen's base knocks was a triple, which moves her into a tie for fourth place on Ripon's career list in that category.

Ripon took a little longer to get their bats started in the second game of the day. After two scoreless innings, the Red Hawks put up two runs in the third. Megan Sockness scored the first run of the game on a Beloit error, while Friend scored the second run on a Geenen single.

They would add two more runs in the fifth, with Geenen driving in her second run of the game on a double, scoring Sockness from third. Shafer produced the final run of the game on a double of her own, which allowed Geenen to score. That double by Shafer breaks the record with the 24th of her career, surpassing Rose Reichhart's total of 23. Gennen's double also moved her up in the career ranks, tying Reichhart for second place all-time.

Knorr (9-5) picked up the win in the second game, pitching her second complete game of the day, allowing five hits, while striking out five and walking one. Geenen and Jessica Goudreau each finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate.

Ripon will continue their conference season on Sunday, with their conference home opener against St. Norbert. The first game of that doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Tracy Field.