The job of a leadoff batter is to get on base, and the job of a shortstop is to make the big plays. Ripon’s Rylee Magazinovic did just that on Tuesday in a 5-2 non-league softball win over visiting Sierra.

Magazinovic reached base in all three of her at-bats, on a fielder’s choice, walk and a bunt single, but it was her defensive prowess that sealed the win. With runners at first and second and one out in the seventh inning, Magazinovic made a diving stop of a sharp grounder to get the force at second. On the next batter she ended the game ranging to left field to make a leaping game-ending catch.

“That first play had a nice hop to it,” Magazinovic said. “I liked how it was hopping, and when the second baseman called to me I threw it to her.

“And on the pop fly there were runners on and we could not let them tie. I was really excited that none of my outfielders called me off so I could make the catch.”

Ava Brocchini (2 for 3, RBI) knocked in Mims Caratachea in the bottom of the sixth inning for an insurance run, putting Ripon (4-1) ahead 5-2.

“I felt pretty confident at the plate,” Brocchini said. “I expected what was coming and I fouled off the outside pitches.

“When it came inside that was my pitch and I let it go.”

Jacee Wilmshurst went the distance inside the circle for the Indians, sprinkling nine hits over the seven innings, striking out three and stranding six Timberwolves in scoring position.

“I just threw the best I could,” Wilmshurst said. “I knew the defense was behind me and that they would pick me up, and they did.”

Wilmshurst got the nod at the last second to start at pitcher as Caratachea was injured at school Tuesday.

“Jacee has five pitches,” Indians coach Robert Vernon said. “We never threw the same pitch twice. She was mixing it up with the screw ball, drop ball, changeup and a backdoor curve. We were able to mix up the pitches, so there were not very many balls squared up.”

Wilmshurst loaded the bases in the sixth and gave up just one run and Sierra had runners at the corners in the seventh and did not score.

“She didn’t give up the big hits in clutch situations,” Vernon said. “She keeps the ball down and she is crafty. She doesn’t throw real hard. And since our number one pitcher was hurt, Jacee may see a lot more mound time this week than she normally does.

“The middle of our order could have done better. They are there for a reason and they are better than they were today.”

Peyton Naranjo doubled in a run for Ripon in the first inning and Katie Rhodes doubled and scored for the Indians.

Jessenia Beltran went 3 for 4 for Sierra (2-1) and went the distance pitching, striking out three and allowing seven hits. She was victimized by back-to-back errors to lead off the Indians second that led to two Ripon runs.

“We have a bulldog and her name is Jessenia Beltran,” Timberwolves coach Mike James said. “She was 3 for 4 and scored a run. She is a bulldog pitching too, but those two errors didn’t help us, especially routine outs and they took advantage of it. Ripon is a very well-coached team and very strong fundamentally.

“We need to keep doing what we do every day. And every day it has to be one more step faster, one more pound harder and just keep bringing what we have to offer.”

James was hired later than he would have liked.

“Me getting this job when I did didn’t help anything,” James said. “Trying to get teams to play us was tough when the schedules were already booked. I see Oakdale is 9-0, Central Catholic is 6-1 and Manteca 6-0. All these teams are in their sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth games and we are in our third.

“But we’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves, and we’re going to keep going. I like the kids we are coaching. They answered very strongly as the game went on.”

Angelina Olivarez was 2 for 4 for Sierra.

Ripon hosts Manteca on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and the Timberwolves travel to Modesto on Thursday to face Big Valley Christian at 3:30 p.m.