The Pipers won and lost one against the Carleton Knights on Monday, managing to score 20 runs across the two contests.
Game one’s action began in the top of the second when Aaron Rice of the Knights ripped an RBI triple into right center to give Carleton the first lead of the game. After extending their lead by another run in the forth, the Knights would put a man on with a hit by pitch. Junior Finn Melchior made them pay with an RBI double to make the score 2–1.
That would unfortunately be it for the Piper offense as the Carleton pitching staff would put up a zero in the run column for the rest of game one, with the Knights adding a little insurance courtesy of a two run sixth. The Pipers would go on to fall in game one by a final score of 4–1.
The Pipers highlight offensively comes from Melchior who knocked in the lone run on a 1–3 afternoon. Hamline starter and first year Hans Christensen took care of business in game one, pitching five innings of two run ball to the tune of five strikeouts.
Game two of the doubleheader saw a very different Hamline team come to play. After allowing two early runs in the top of the first inning, the Pipers put up a crooked number in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs and taking the lead.
With the score at 6–3 going into the fifth, two Carleton errors would allow for three more Pipers to cross the plate, increasing their lead to 9–3. The final nail in the coffin would come in the bottom of the eighth when Hamline put up six runs to win via mercy-rule by a final score of 16–6.
The offense was full of bright spots in game two with Seniors Tyler Johnson and Nick Zezulka shining the brightest. Zezulka went 2–4 at the plate with a walk, knocking in three and scoring twice. Johnson went 4–5 at the plate with a walk, three runs scored, and five RBI.
The Pipers move to 6–8 in conference play and 14–19 overall. Hamline will be in action next on April 27 as they take on Augsburg in a three game series.