The Beloit College softball team fell to Ripon College in two tight games in their home opening double header Friday afternoon.

Taking advantage of better weather Friday than the originally scheduled play date of Saturday, the Bucs nearly split their home and conference opener with the Redhawks.

Ripon took game one 3-0 as the Buccaneers tallied just one hit in the contest. Alyssa Boltik went the distance in the circle allowing one earned run in seven innings of work while striking out five.

The nightcap was a nailbiter and just about as even as it could be. Each team posted four hits, by four different players.

The Redhawks plated the first run of the game in the top of the third off a roundtripper to right center. Ripon added another solo run in the top of the fourth courtesy of back-to-back doubles.

Beloit battled getting two runners on in the bottom of the fourth before plating a run in the bottom of the sixth. Bree Swanson led off the inning with a single to third base. A throwing error a bunt from Alyssa Morris put runners on the corners with no outs. Morris took off for second in the next at bat and Swanson left for home on the throw down safely touching home to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. BC was unable to take advantage of the opportunity to plate the tying run the rest of the way.

The junior pitchers from both teams dueled throughout the entirety of both games. The Buc hitters made adjustments between games and struck out nearly half as many times in game two. Boltik double her 'K' output fanning 10 in the nightcap.

Beloit is slated to host UW-Platteville for a twinbill Tuesday, April 3 beginning at 3 p.m.