RIPON, Wis. - The Beloit College Softball team traveled to Ripon, Wis. for their final MWC road trip this afternoon. The Buccaneers (10-26, 4-10 MWC) defeated the Red Hawks (9-21, 3-9 MWC) in both games, 13-9 and 8-4. Beloit's offense exploded for 32 hits over both games compared to just 13 from Ripon. 

Game One: 
The Buccaneers fell behind 6-0 after three innings but erased the deficit in the top of the fourth. Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) led off the inning with a single to right, Hannah Beran (Calendonia, Ill.) came into pinch run for Overocker. Kaylee Witte (Poplar Grove, IL) moved Beren to third with a double to center. A single to left from Briana Arteaga (Covina, Calif.) scored Beren and moved Witte to third. Stella Lutes (Riverside, IL) tallied the fourth straight hit with a single to right, scoring Witte and pushing Arteaga to third. Allsion Olson hit a bases clearing double to left center, making it a 4-7 game. With still no outs, Isabel Johnson (Austin, Texas) singled to the short stop. Jocelyn Jordan (Beloit, Wis.) reached on a fielder's choice that loaded the bases. Paloma Reyes (Beloit, Wis.) took over on the bases for Jordan. Siddalee Meyers (Orfordville, Wis.) singled to third base, scoring Olson to plate the sixth run of the inning for Beloit. 

The Buccaneers took the lead for good in game one in the top of the fifth. Lutes hit her team-leading third home run with one out in the top half of the inning. With the bases empty, Olson walked and scurried to third on a double by Johnson. Reyes grounded out but scored Olson to break the 7-7 tie. 

The Bucs' defense shut down the Red Hawks in the bottom of the fifth and picked the bats back up to extend their lead. Beloit pushed five runs across in the top of the sixth. Once again, it was Overocker sparking the rally with a single. A double-play erased the runners and forced the Bucs to restart the rally with two outs. Arteaga did just that, reaching via a walk. Lutes picked up another RBI with a double to left to score Arteaga. Olson and Johnson hit back to back singles with Olson's scoring Lutes. A fielding error by the Red Hawks' center fielder allowed Reyes to reach and loaded the bases for Meyers. She came up big with a bases clearing double to left. Those three runs marked the final of game one for Beloit. Ripon added one run in the sixth and one in the seventh but weren't able to close the gap any further. 

Game Two: 
Once again, the Red Hawks scored first in game two, plating two runs in the bottom of the second. Beloit cut the lead in half in the top of the third. With Johnson and Reyes on first and second, Jordan laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up sixty feet. Meyers singled to the short stop, scoring Johnson. Trying to sneak in to tie the game, Reyes was thrown out at home. 

In the bottom of the third, starting pitcher Helena Harrison (Chapel Hill, N.C.) settled in and retired the side in order to give the Bucs another crack at tying the game or taking the lead. Angela Donath led off the fourth for the Bucs by laying down a bunt single. She moved herself up to second with a stolen base. Overocker moved her another sixty with a sacrifice bunt. Lutes racked up the RBI with a single through the left side. Despite grounding out, Arteaga was a productive out, pushing Lutes to second. Olson singled and stole second to put runners on second and third. Johnson hit a 2 RBI single to left center, giving Beloit a 4-2 lead. Reyes singled and Jordan walked to load the bases for the ever dangerous Meyers. Meyers singled and scored Johnson for the final run of the inning. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Ripon jolted to life, closing the gap and making it a 5-4 game. The Bucs defense buckled down and didn't allow another run over the next two innings. Runs 6,7 and 8 came in the top of the sixth via singles Jordan and Donath and a double from Meyers,

Harrison picked up the win in game two, pitching a complete game in which she gave uo just five hits. 

The Buccaneers return to Beloit this weekend when they will host the Monmouth College FIghting Scots for senior day. First pitch will be at 1 pm.