RIPON, Wis. - The Beloit College Buccaneers softball team faced a tough road test today, dropping both games of a doubleheader against Ripon College at Tracy Field. Despite falling 2-0 and 8-1, the Buccaneers (3-34, 2-12 MWC) showcased stellar complete-game pitching efforts and aggressive baserunning that highlighted the team's relentless competitive spirit.
Game 1: Beloit 0, Ripon 2
In the opening game of the afternoon, Beloit was locked in a tight defensive battle. Buccaneers pitcher Zoey Buchholtz (Lake Mills, WI) turned in a gem on the mound. Buchholtz threw a complete game, allowing only six hits and just one earned run over her six innings of work. She consistently kept the potent Red Hawks (22-10, 9-3 MWC) offense off balance, giving Beloit a chance to strike the entire game.
Offensively, the Buccaneers scattered three hits against Ripon's Peyton Vandeloo. G Calderon (Winthrop Harbor, IL) was a tough out all game, recording a single and drawing two walks to reach base safely in three of her plate appearances. Beloit's brightest offensive moment came in the top of the sixth inning when Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.) crushed a double to left field. Jessalyn Coppe (Niles, IL) also added a single earlier in the game, but the Buccaneers were ultimately unable to push a run across, falling in a close 2-0 contest.
Game 2: Beloit 1, Ripon 8
The Buccaneers wasted no time making their mark in the second game of the day, jumping out to an early advantage in the top of the first inning.
Kaylee Witte (Poplar Grove, IL) sparked the offense with a sharp single through the right side. After Lylah Murrah (North Pole, AK) drew a walk and Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) grounded out to advance the runners, Witte executed a thrilling piece of aggressive baserunning by stealing home to put Beloit up 1-0.
Ripon would answer back in the bottom of the second and went on to claim an 8-1 victory. Despite the score, Beloit's hitters continued to find ways to put the ball in play. Calderon, Murrah, and Coppe all recorded hits in Game 2, and Witte reached base a second time after being hit by a pitch. Briggs shouldered the load on the mound, battling through a full six innings.
Witte provided the offensive highlight of the day for the Bucs, manufacturing a first-inning run in Game 2 by singling and straight-up stealing home. Calderon was a constant on-base threat for Beloit over the course of the afternoon, collecting two hits and walking twice across both contests. Buchholtz went toe-to-toe with one of the conference's top pitchers in Game 1, allowing only one earned run in an impressive complete-game performance.
The Buccaneers wrap up the 2026 season next Sunday in Appleton. First pitch of the doubleheader against the Vikings is set for 12 pm from Whiting Field.
