Ripon Uses Dramatics to Advance to Regional Title Game

Box Score

     Ripon College (Wis.) advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Division III Wisconsin Rapids Regional and extended its winning streak to 13 games with a 7-4 victory over St. Olaf College (Minn.) on May 19 at Witter Field. 

     The Red Hawks will play for the regional title at May 20 at noon and will need one victory for a berth to their first-ever Division III championship appearance. The Oles will face the winner of today�s University of St. Thomas (Minn.) and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point matchup at 7:00 p.m. tonight.

     Ripon�s Bob Abel greeted St. Olaf pitcher Alex Sommer with a leadoff home run to center field on the first pitch of the ninth inning for the winning run.   The Red Hawks� Tyler Haddock added a two-run blast to center field later in the inning.

     St. Olaf tied the game at 4-4 in the eighth when Josh Schultheis hit his second home run of the game, a three-run shot to left to score Chris Terrazas, who reached on a two-out error, and Andrew Schmiesing, who reached on a fielder�s choice.

     Ripon tallied a pair of runs in the fourth when Eric Schwendimann lined a single up the middle to score Andy Monigal who led off the inning with a double.  Chevy Schultz then ripped a two-out single to left to score Tyler Haddock who walked.

     The Oles countered in their half of the inning when Schultheis led off the inning with a home run to right center.

     The Red Hawks scored two runs in the eighth when Chevy Schultz lined a two-out double to right center to score Bo Johnson, who singled, and Kyle McFarland, who reached on a fielder�s choice.

     Greg Basthemer pitched final 1.1 innings to earn the win for the Red Hawks and improve to 5-0 on the season.   He relieved starter Jordan Baitinger who tossed 7.2 innings and scattered six hits and allowed four runs (one earned) with three strikeouts and no walks. Baitinger had retired eight straight batters before Brian Astry reached on a one-out error to start the Oles� rally in the eighth.

     Sommer took the loss for St. Olaf to fall to 1-1 on the year.  Dan O�Malley pitched eight innings and allowed four runs (all earned) with 10 strikeouts and one walk.