BELOIT, WI – The Beloit College softball team put on an offensive clinic this afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader from Ripon College at home. The Buccaneers dominated the opener with a 12-2 victory shortened to five innings by the run rule, and followed up with a decisive 10-4 win in the second game. The pair of victories improved Beloit's record to 9-29 overall and 7-7 in conference action.
Game 1: Beloit 12, Ripon 2 (5 Innings)
The Buccaneers wasted no time asserting control in the first game, plating five runs in the bottom of the first inning. The rally started with an RBI groundout from Kaitlyn Nicholson (Roscoe, Ill), scoring Angela Donath (Wausau, Wis.). Briana Arteaga (Covina, Calif.) came home on a Kaylee Witte (Poplar Grove, IL) RBI double, followed swiftly by an RBI single from Jocelyn Jordan (Beloit, Wis.) that scored Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.). Allie Gustafson (Beloit, Wis.) capped the inning with a two-run single, bringing home Witte and Jordan for a 5-0 lead.
Beloit mirrored their first-inning success with another five-run outburst in the second. A throwing error by the Ripon pitcher allowed Arteaga to score, unearned. Later, an error by Ripon's second baseman allowed Witte to reach and Nicholson to score. A fielder's choice off the bat of Jordan brought home Briggs. Gustafson then delivered the big blow, launching a two-run homer to score Jordan and extend the lead to 10-0.
Ripon (9-23, 6-8 MWC) managed a run in the third on a solo home run by Arianna Alirez. Beloit responded in the bottom of the third when Taylor Martin (Appleton, Wis.) scored on a caught stealing attempt by Donath at second base.
Witte added another run for the Bucs in the fourth with a solo home run. Ripon scored their second run in the top of the fourth via a Jayden Markus RBI single.
Briggs pitched effectively for Beloit, going 4.0 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out one and issuing no walks. Samantha Friedrichsohn (Waukesha, WI) pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
Game 2: Beloit 10, Ripon 4
The second game saw Ripon score first in the top of the third, but Beloit quickly answered and built a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Beloit initially tied the game and took the lead in the bottom of the first. Arteaga scored on a passed ball, and Witte singled to bring home Briggs, making it 2-0 after one inning, although Ripon would later score an unearned run in the top of the third.
Beloit added a run in the third inning when Witte delivered another RBI single, scoring Nicholson to make it 3-1.
In the fourth inning, Beloit extended their lead. Martin scored on an RBI sacrifice bunt by Paloma Reyes (Beloit, Wis.). Later, Arteaga singled to shortstop, bringing home Donath (who reached on an error) for an unearned run, pushing the score to 5-1.
Ripon closed the gap slightly with Kayla Cruz's solo home run in the fifth, making it 5-2.
The Buccaneers broke the game open with a five-run surge in the bottom of the sixth inning. Arteaga started the scoring with an RBI double. Nicholson and Arteaga both scored on a two-run double by Briggs. Witte followed with an RBI single scoring Briggs, and Gustafson singled to score Hannah Beran (Calendonia, Ill.) (pinch-running for Witte), ballooning the lead to 10-4 after Ripon had scored two runs in the top of the frame.
Briggs again earned the win, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing five hits and four runs (two earned) with three walks and one strikeout. Friedrichsohn pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing two hits and no runs.
The Buccaneers hold their own destiny heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Sitting in fifth place, if the Bucs can sweep Lawrence at home on Saturday, they have a chance to make the postseason. The Bucs host the Vikings at 1pm and 3pm on May 3rd.
