Ripon’s Late Comeback Forces Split with Lady Blues

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
RIPON, Wis. – The Illinois College softball team got off to a good start on Saturday in a doubleheader at Ripon College, but the Red Hawks had the last laugh with a sixth inning comeback that proved to be the difference in the second game. The Lady Blues (15-9, 7-5 Midwest Conference) settled for one of two with a 4-1 victory in Game One and a 2-1 loss in Game Two.

Illinois College closes out its weekend on the road with a doubleheader against Carroll University on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. in Waukesha, Wis.

Game One: Illinois College 4, Ripon 1
Amanda Price won once threw a complete game, improving to 5-3 after limiting Ripon to five hits and one run in 7.0 innings.

Illinois College took a brief lead in the top of the second inning as Ripon starter Ashley Parkkonen struggled with her control. Elyce Trout started out the inning with a single through the left side of the infield and the Lady Blues loaded the bases with two outs after a pair of walks by Parkkonen. Shelby Koehler was up to bat looking to give IC the lead, but she was plunked instead. That drove in a run but Parkkonen was able to escape any further damage.

The Red Hawks scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the second to knot it at 1-1. A two-out double by Teara Morgenroth scored Stephanie Cartwright to tie the game going to the third.

The game remained tied until the fifth inning. Jackie Reilly led off with a walk for IC and Katie Prizer singled back up the middle to put two on. Lea Hall moved each runner over on a sacrifice bunt and a pop fly by Trout was deep enough to score Reilly for a 2-1 lead. After Kinzie Verhines reached on a walk and stole second, Marissa Knowles singled to bring Prizer and Verhines in for a 4-1 advantage.

That was all that Price needed. She shut down the Red Hawks in each of their last three trips to the plate and the Lady Blues picked up a solid road victory. IC ended the game with five hits, one each by Reilly, Prizer, Trout, Knowles and Hannah Knapper.

Game Two: Ripon 2, Illinois College 1
Mariah Hedges went the distance but took the loss for the Lady Blues as Ripon scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to keep IC from the sweep. Hedges gave up only four hits, but fell to 5-2 on the season.

It was a pitcher's duel all the way, but Illinois College took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth. A one-out error by Ripon allowed Trout to reach for the Lady Blues and Knowles doubled to put two runners in scoring position. From there, Verhines singled home Trout on a hit to left, but pinch-runner Mickalah York was thrown out at home on the relay from the outfield.

Ripon started its comeback with one out in the sixth. A single and a walk put two aboard and a Parkkonen double brought the runner at second home to tie the game at 1-1. A sacrifice fly to right field followed and the Red Hawks took a 2-1 lead, leaving IC only three outs to try to tie the game. Lexi Reetz slammed the door shut to finish off her complete game victory in the seventh, sitting down Knapper, Abby Campbell and Koehler in order to finish it off.

Illinois College outhit the Red Hawks in the game, 6-4. Koehler and Verhines each had two hits apiece and Knowles and Campbell added one each.