For the day, Cory Miller (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.) led the Pipers at the plate with five RBI and five runs scored 5-for-8 hitting. Tony Rogers (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) went 4-for-7 with an RBI and six runs scored, and Dan Ellefson (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.) was 4-for-8 with four RBI and a run scored.

Game 1:
HU    10   14   1
FU     3     9    3

The Pipers, filling the role of the visitors in game one, got the morning started with a pair of runs in the first inning. Rogers led off with a single just out of the reach of the Finlandia shortstop. He advanced to second on a ground out, and then scored on a two-out double to right field from Alex Buresh (Sr. Vadnais Heights, Minn.).

Buresh then scored when a fly ball to right field by J.D. Modrynski (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) was bobbled.

Hamline added a run in each of the next three innings to go up 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth. In the second, Andy Powell (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) hit a double down the left field line. Miller then singled through the right side for the RBI.

Buresh drew a lead-off walk in the third, advanced to second on a ground out, and scored on an RBI-single to right field by Ellefson. In the fourth, Miller hit a two-out double down the left field line and Derek Ritter (Fy., Owatonna, Minn.) hit a single to right field to drive in Miller.

The Lions scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth on four hits, all singles.

Will Williams (Sr., Romulus, Mich.) and Cody Mahler (Fy., Marenisco, Mich.) had outfield singles for the two RBI.

The Pipers continued to score, starting off the fifth inning as Modrynski singled to left field to lead off and Ellefson drove him home with a hard-hit, one-out single up the middle. Ellefson advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a double to left field by Tres Humerickhouse (Jr., Farmington, Minn.).

Miller and Ritter added RBI-singles in the inning as Hamline tallied four runs on six hits in the fifth to go up 9-2. The Pipers’ final run came in the sixth as Modrynski scored following a single and a pair of wild pitches that advanced him to third. Hughes had the RBI on a ground out to shortstop.

The Lions’ third run also came in the sixth on a pair of singles and a Piper error, with the second single by Mahler driving in the run.

The seventh inning of the game was the lone inning without a Piper run.

Five Piper pitchers combined to scatter the 10 Finlandia hits. Evan Knutson (Fy., Faribault, Minn.) was credited with the win on the mound for Hamline, as he threw one and one-thirds innings, giving up no hits. Lee Naugle (Sr., Chassell, Mich.) threw a complete game for the Lions in taking the loss.

Miller was 3-for-5, Buresh and Ellefson each went 2-for-4, as all three tallied a pair of RBI apiece. Rogers, Buresh, Modrynski, and Powell each crossed the plate twice.

Game 2:
FU    4    10  3
HU   13   13  0

Hamline took over as the home team in game two and quickly took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning on a pair of hits and a Finlandia error. Rogers drew a lead- off and stole second to get into scoring position as Miller drove him in with a single to center field.

Miller advanced to second on the throw attempt, and then advanced to third as Buresh singled to right field. The Lions’ first baseman bobbled the relay in from the outfield, and Miller charged home to take advantage of the error.

After a scoreless second inning, Finlandia put a run on the board in the top of the third as Carl Roscoe (So., Romulus, Mich.) singled, stole second, and advanced to third and scored on wild pitches.

The Pipers then responded with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning. Rogers hit a lead-off single to second base, stole second, and scored on an RBI-single from Buresh through the right side after Miller drew a walk. Miller advanced to third on the single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Modrynski.

Finlandia put together four hits, all singles, in the fourth, but only managed one run out of the inning. Hamline put together four hits – two doubles and two triples - of their own in the bottom of the frame, and used those, along with a Finlandia error, to score five runs.

The extra-base hits came as Rogers hit a one-out ground-rule double over the low wall in right-center field, Miller hit a triple to the gap in right-center, Hughes doubled to the same location, and Ellefson hit a triple to the right field corner.

The Pipers went on to add three runs on three hits and an error in the fifth to score 13 total runs. Finlandia added one more run on a hit in the seventh.

Four Piper pitchers took to the mound as Finlandia tallied their 10 hits, with starter Michael Bland (So., Minnetonka, Minn.) going four innings for the win. He gave up seven hits and two runs while striking out five batters and walking none.
Tyler McGaha (Fy., Baraga, Mich.) threw all six innings on the mound for the Lions for the loss.

Rogers went 3-for-3 in game two with an RBI and four runs scored while Miller went 2-for-3, driving in three runs and scoring four. Modrynski also had a three-RBI effort as he went 1-for-2 at the plate. Buresh and Ellefson each added two RBI on 2-for-3 and 2-for-4 hitting, respectively.

With the non-conference wins, Hamline is now 4-8 overall. The Lions are 2-11 overall. Hamline next plays in the Greater Phoenix Invitational in Arizona against M.I.T on Thursday, March 25.