Game 1:
HU 3 4 5
NWC 0 1 3
Brett Bugielski (So., River Falls, Wis.) went the distance on the
mound for the Pipers in the opening game, tossing a one-hit shutout
across the seven innings as Hamline played the role of the visitors.
The Pipers put their first two runs on the board in the third inning
on a pair of hits and an Eagle error. Tres Humerickhouse (Jr.,
Farmington, Minn.) led off by reaching on an error and was advanced to
second on a sacrifice fly. Andy Powell (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) then
drove in Humerickhouse for the first run.
With the bases empty after Powell was thrown out at second, Tony
Rogers (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) singled to left field, stole second, and
scored the second Piper run after a pair of wild pitches.
The Pipers’ third run came in the top of the seventh after Dan
Ellefson (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.) came in on a sacrifice fly by Powell
for his second RBI of the game.
Game 2:
NWC 4 10 1
HU 5 6 0
After being shutout in the opener, the Eagles scored quickly in game
two, putting a pair of run on the board in the top of the first as the
Pipers held the home team spot.
Zach Markwith (Fy., Honolulu, Hawaii) hit a one-out ground-rule
double to left field before Dan Halstensgard (Sr., St. Anthony, Minn.)
drove him in with a single through the left side. Ryan Nelson (Jr.,
Stillwater, Minn.) then hit the second Northwestern double of the inning
to drive in Halstensard.
The Eagles’ third run came in the top of the third as they tallied
three hits but left the bases loaded at the end of the inning. Ryan Long
(Sr., Dassel, Minn.) recorded the second ground-rule double of the
game, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and then came home on a
single by Nelson.
Hamline made it a one-run game in the bottom of the third, scoring a
pair of runs on one hit and a Northwestern error. Powell and Rogers drew
one-out walks and then executed a double steal to advance a base. On
the steal attempt, the Northwestern catcher attempted to throw out
Powell at third, but over-shot the base and Powell scored on the errant
throw as Rogers moved to third. Rogers then came home on a sacrifice
fly by Derek Ritter (Fy., Owatonna, Minn.).
The Eagles put another run on the board in the top of the fifth, but a
three-run effort by the Pipers in the bottom of the same frame gave
Hamline their first lead of the game.
Powell drew a lead-off walk and then scored on the next at-bat as
Rogers tripled to right field. Rogers then tied the game as he scored on
a Ritter single. Ritter moved to second on a Lincoln Hughes (Sr., Inver
Grove Heights, Minn.) sacrifice bunt and then scored the eventual
game-winning run on a ground-rule double by J.D. Modrynski (Jr.,
Lakeville, Minn.).
Starter Evan Knutson (Fy., Faribault, Minn.) gave up four runs on
seven hits in four and one-third innings but reliever Cass Kreitlow
(Jr., Glenwood, Minn.) took the win on the mound as he handled the final
two and two-thirds innings. Kreitlow scattered three hits and a pair of
strikeouts in the final eight outs pitched.
Rogers was 1-for-2 with two walks, scoring a pair of runs and driving
in a run in the second game. Ritter had two RBI and a run scored on a
1-for-3 performance at the plate for Hamline. The Eagles had 10 hits to
the Pipers’ six in the second game.
Hamline is now 2-6 overall with the non-conference wins. The Eagles
are 3-8 overall. Hamline next plays on Wednesday, March 17, when they
take on Midland Lutheran in a 7:30 a.m. double-header at the Metrodome.
Game 1 box score: 3-0
Game 2 box score: 5-4