Game 1:
MLC   7   13  2
HU     2   10  3

In a game in which the teams combined for 23 hits, Midland Lutheran plated five more runners than the Pipers for the 7-2 victory.

Midland Lutheran, taking the role of the visitors on the scoreboard in the morning’s opener, struck first as Derek Kampschneider (So., Dodge, Neb.) hit a lead-off homerun in the second inning.

The Warriors then loaded the bases with a single up the middle followed by a pair of bunts, and Nolan Koehn (Sr., Omaha, Neb.) drove the three runners home with a single to right-center field, taking a 4-0 lead. They scored the four runs on five hits in the inning.

The Pipers cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Tres Humerickhouse (Jr., Farmington, Minn.) got Hamline started with a one-out double to center field. He then advanced to third on a Cory Miller (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.) single. Miller moved to second and Humerickhouse scored the first Piper run of the inning on a Midland Lutheran wild pitch.

Tony Rogers (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) have the second RBI of the inning with a ground rule double to the left field corner, scoring Miller.

Midland Lutheran then took a 7-2 lead in the fifth as they scored three runs on a pair of hits and two Piper errors. They loaded the bases and drew a two-out walk to score Kampschneider, and then scored a pair of runs as McCoy Worthington (Sr., Paul, Idaho) laid down an RBI bunt single but Piper reliever Tyler Welch (Sr., Bettandorf, Iowa) overthrew first, allowing a second run to score on the error.

Miller and Kampschneider were each 3-for-3 at the plate for their respective teams in the opening game.

Justin Robbins (1-0, Sr., Omaha, Neb.) went the distance on the mound for the Warriors in the win while Matt Eickman (0-1, Fy., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) went four and two-thirds innings to take the loss for the Pipers.

Game 2:
HU    3   8    1
MLC  7   12  3

Midland Lutheran, the home team in game two, jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning once again, scoring a pair of runs on four hits. Wes Drumm (Sr., Bennington, Neb.) hit a one-out single and then moved to second on another single by Koehn before DJ Johnson (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) doubled home the first run. Koehn followed Drumm across the plate on an RBI single from Kampschneider.

Hamline responded with a three-run third, putting runners on the corners with no outs.  Rogers began the inning with a lead-off single, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Miller drew a walk. Lincoln Hughes (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) then hit a single through the left side to drive in Rogers, cutting the Midland Lutheran lead to a run.

Miller and Hughes advanced to third and second, respectively, on a Warrior throwing error, setting up a two-RBI single up the middle from Alex Buresh (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.). The pair of runs put Hamline up 3-2.

Miller continued to hurt the Warriors in the bottom of the inning as he made diving catches on the warning track in center field and deep to his left for the first two outs. His efforts prevented at least one Warrior run, as the third batter hit a single to right field and the fourth batter grounded out to third.

The Warriors took the lead back in the fourth on a pair of runs off of three hits, including a pair of singles to start off the inning. The runners moved over on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a two-RBI single to right center by Lucas McCain (Jr., Fremont, Neb.). Miller ended the scoring with another tough catch on the warning track in left center for the third out.

Koehn then led off the Midland Lutheran fifth with a homerun to left field for the 5-3 Warrior lead. They added two more runs on a hit, a Piper error, and a pair of wild pitches for the 7-3 advantage in the sixth.

Buresh was 2-for-4 from the plate with a pair of RBI to lead Hamline. Johnson was 3-for-4 from the plate with an RBI while McCain was 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Warriors.

Koehn threw a complete game in getting the win for Midland Lutheran while Casey Benford (0-2, Fy., Mesa, Ariz.) went three and two-thirds innings to take the loss for Hamline.

With the non-conference losses, Hamline is now 2-8 overall. The Warriors are 6-4 overall. Hamline next plays on Monday, March 22, when they take on Finlandia in a 9:00 a.m. double-header at the Metrodome.

Game 1 box score: 7-2Game 2 box score: 7-3