The Ripon Christian Knights are in a must-win situation against Bradshaw Christian in today’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI baseball playoff game at the Galt Community Center.

The defending section champion Pride (25-4) took the first game in the best-of-three semifinal series over the weekend, 7-2. The series resumes at 4 p.m. tonight. The “if” game will follow should RC even the series by winning Game 2.

Grant Heisinger powered the Bradshaw Christian, going 3 for 4 with a home run, triple and double on Saturday. He had three RBI and scored twice. Seth Vandergift chipped in with two hits.

Heisinger was also the winning pitcher.

RC (14-10-1) was led by Chris Saenz, who had two hits including a double. He and Mike Myers, who was also 2 for 4, accounted for both runs. Danny Vander Molen was 3 for 3.

Starting pitcher Kalvin Prins put together a solid effort in the loss.

The Pride took a 1-0 first-inning lead, with the Knights coming back to tie the game at 1-1 at the top of the third. From there, Bradshaw Christian added two runs in the bottom of the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Probable starters on the mound are Austin Ragsdale (6-1, 0.59) for Bradshaw and Colby DeVries (7-3, 1.43) for Ripon Christian, which is making its first-ever appearance in the second round of the SJS playoffs.

In the other semifinal, the Mariposa Bears, who share the Southern League crown with RC, defeated Vacaville Christian in their opener Saturday. The championship game is scheduled for next Monday, May 28 at a site and time yet to be determined.