RIPON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University baseball team dropped a pair of close Midwest Conference games at Ripon College on Sunday, as the Red Hawks won 14-12 and 9-8.
In the opener, Lawrence trailed 10-1 heading to the fourth inning when the Vikings rallied. Lawrence scored four times in the fourth, highlighted by Tommy Schmidt's two-run homer, to cut the lead to 10-5.
Ripon then led 14-5 when the Vikings mounted another big rally in the seventh inning. After Tim Salm's run-scoring groundout cut the lead to 14-6, Brad Hauser followed with a RBI single. Hawk Haiduke then belted a two-run double to trim the lead to 14-9. Ben Webster and Evan Neuens then had back-to-back run-scoring doubles to trim the margin to 14-11.
Lawrence edged closer in the eighth when Billy Bodle doubled and later scored on Haiduke's single. The Vikings got the tying run to the plate in the ninth but Bodle grounded out to end the game.
Lawrence (8-19, 3-9 MWC) out-hit the Red Hawks (17-10, 11-1) 18-15 in the game, with Hauser going 4-for-4 and Webster going 3-for-5 to pace the Vikings.
In the nightcap, Lawrence grabbed a 3-1 lead by scoring three times in the fourth inning. Hauser got the rally started with a single and later scored on Neuens' single. Tim O'Toole and Haiduke both followed with run-scoring singles to cap the rally.
Ripon then scored twice in each of the next three innings to take a 7-3 lead, but the Vikings rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh.
The Vikings loaded the bases on a single, walk and hit batsman to start the seventh. Bodle then delivered a two-run double to cut the lead to 7-5. After a sacrifice fly, Haiduke tripled to score Bodle and tie the game at 7-7. Webster followed with a single to score Haiduke and Lawrence led 8-7.
Ripon came back to take the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh. The Red Hawks had runners at second and third with two outs, but Nick Whitty's ground ball was misplayed and the tying run scored. Brandan Birschbach followed with a single to score another run and Ripon led 9-8.
The Vikings got the tying run to third in the eighth, but Adam Fritsch was stranded there. Bryant Bednarek then retired the side in order in the ninth to earn the win.
Lawrence again out-hit the Red Hawks 16-14 in the nightcap. Webster and Fritsch had three hits apiece to pace the Lawrence offense.
The Vikings return to action Thursday when they host Carroll College in the home finale at Whiting Field. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.