Needing just one win on Saturday to win their second consecutive Midwest Conference Championship, the Ripon College baseball team didn't make things easy on themselves. They dropped their first game against Beloit College 17-7 in eight innings, but redeemed themselves in a second championship game with an 11-9 victory over the Buccaneers. That clinches Ripon's 10th MWC Championship in the last 14 years, giving them an automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Regional Tournament.

In the first of the two games, Ripon (20-18) looked well on their way to a championship, taking a 3-0 lead on two runs in the second and one in the third with RBIs coming from David Forseth, John Henrickson and Taylor Koth. That lead disappeared in the bottom of the third however, as Beloit (27-12) saw four runs cross the plate on a pair of RBI singles and another single that scored two more.

The Red Hawks tied things up in the fifth when Kyle Bosquez scored on a ground out, but Beloit again took command in the bottom of that frame, scoring three runs on just one hit, while drawing four walks. The Buccaneers took a 9-4 lead with two more runs in the seventh on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly.

Ripon did their best to keep things close, as they cut the Beloit lead to two with three runs in the top of the eighth. Zach Bayreuther drove in two of those runs, with the other RBI coming on a single by Kyle Bosquez. That's as close as the score would get however, as Beloit put an exclamation point on the victory with eight runs on four hits in the eighth. That forced another game for all the marbles with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Regional playoffs.

The Red Hawks were led ion the first game by two hits apiece by Bosquez, Beaman, Forseth and Bayreuther. Steven Blader (3-5) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on six hits and striking out five in four innings of work.

The tournament's final game also saw the Red Hawks get off to a good start, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first on a Nick Beaman double. As they did all day, Beloit would come back, plating two runs of their own in the second.

Beloit added five runs in the top of the fourth on just three hits, as the first two batters each drew walks. Ripon answered in a big way in the bottom of the inning, scoring six runs on four hits and one error to take a one-run lead. The first run came when John Henrickson drew a bases loaded walk, which was followed by a two run double by Bosquez and a two-run single by Beaman, who would later score on a wild pitch.

The Red Hawks added two runs the following inning on a double from Henrickson after Aaron Kastner and Bayreuther each walked to begin the inning. They would add an insurance run in the eighth when Adam Grambow scored on another wild pitch after leading the inning off with a single.

The Buccaneers made things interesting in the final inning, as the first three batters reached base, causing Ripon to pull out all the stops and call on one of their top pitchers Jason Wierschke to finish the game. Beloit managed to score two runs after that change, but Wierschke managed to record the final three outs, two of which were strikeouts to secure the championship.

Ripon's top three batters finished the game a combined 7-for-13 at the plate. Henrickson led the way with three base finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Beaman and Bosquez each added two hits, while combining for six RBI and three runs scored. Kurt Roeder (7-3) earned the victory in relief, allowing three runs on four hits in 4.2 innings, while Wierschke recorded his first save of the season, allowing just one hit in his only inning of work.

The Red Hawks will now play the waiting game, as they will find out on Monday who their first opponent will be in Thursday's NCAA Regional Tournament. They enter Regionals having won 11 of their last 15 games.