The Ripon High School Tiger softball team came up short in a pair of tough games at the Plymouth Tournament Saturday, falling 8-7 to the New Holstein Huskies and 5-3 to the Whitnall Falcons.
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Ripon (17-5 overall) appeared to be in control against New Holstein (18-6) after building an 8-3 lead in the top of the seventh, but the Huskies rallied for five runs in the bottom half to escape with a walk-off victory.
The Tigers scored once in each of the first two innings. Sophomore Lily Kwakkel delivered an RBI double in the first and sophomore Adele Minor added an RBI single in the second. New Holstein answered with two runs in the bottom of the second to tie it.
Ripon quickly regained the lead in the third when freshman Quinn Goldapske opened the inning with a triple and scored on an error one batter later. New Holstein again pulled even in the fourth, but the Tigers went back ahead in the fifth when Goldapske stole home.
Ripon stretched the lead to five with three runs in the seventh. Seniors Hayden Baker and Addison Pick each drove in a run with singles.
The Tigers could not close it out, though, as New Holstein scored five times on two singles and four walks.
Freshman Nora Walejko took the loss after relieving Goldapske in the seventh with Ripon leading 7-6. Walejko got the first batter to line out before an error, single, walk, stolen base and two wild pitches ended the game.
Senior Addison Johnson started in the circle and pitched four innings, allowing four runs, all earned, on five hits and one walk. Goldapske followed with two innings, giving up four earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four.
Ripon outhit New Holstein 9-8. Goldapske and Kwakkel had two hits apiece, while Addison Johnson, freshman Kennedy Johnson, Baker, Minor and Pick each added one.
Against Whitnall (18-6), Ripon fell behind 4-0 after the Falcons scored twice in both the second and third innings.
The Tigers responded with one run in the fourth and two in the fifth, cutting the deficit to 4-3, but Whitnall added an insurance run and held on.
Kwakkel hit her eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fifth. She and Kennedy Johnson each finished with two hits to lead Ripon, while junior Jocelyn Baker added the other hit.
Walejko made her second varsity start of the season and allowed four unearned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two. Goldapske pitched the final three innings, giving up one earned run on one hit and a walk.
Ripon, which has been strong defensively all season, committed three errors in the loss.
The Tigers return home Monday to host Notre Dame Academy in a non-conference game at 5 p.m. They close the regular season Tuesday at Almond-Bancroft with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.