Softballers' Bats Explode For Sweep Of Oles

Friday, April 20 was a day to remember on many fronts for Hamline's softball team. The following events occurred at Meredith Field on this sun-splashed afternoon:

• The Pipers recorded their first sweep of the season, defeating St. Olaf, 9-1, in five innings and 11-3 in six frames.
• The sweep means the Pipers have won three games in a row for the first time this season. They are 6-24 overall, 5-11 in MIAC play.
• It was a good day for players named Lauren. P Lauren Clouston went the distance in both games. She also had a big day at the plate, going 4-for-7 with two doubles and a home run. She also scored three runs and knocked in seven. 1B Lauren Turitto was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and also hit a  home run.
• Bethany Hine was no slouch herself at the plate, going 5-for-7 with five runs scored and four RBI. Laura Randall also had a productive afternoon, going 4-for-8.
• The Pipers pounded out a season high 16 hits in the second game win.
• Head coach Jim Rubbelke registered the 99th and 100 victories of his coaching career at HU. His current career mark is 100-87.

You get the idea.

The Pipers waster going to work on the Oles in Game 1.They sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning, scored three runs and never looked back. Clouston's RBI double was the blow that ignited the outburst. In the second,  Randall tripled home a run and then scored on a grounder. In the third, Turitto unloaded a long home run to left center. Hine tripled in the fourth to spark another three-run rally. Clouston scattered five hits and the Pipers had the win. 

Hine and Randall are turning into a potent 1-2 punch at the top of the order. Hine is now batting .390 and Randall has jumped to .329.

In game 2, St. Olaf grabbed an early lead when Clouston Wild pitched a run home in the top of the first inning. But she made up for it in the bottom of the inning with a two-RBI double. Everybody got into th act in a seven0-run second that saw 12 HU batters go to the plate. Seven of them scored, three of those riding in on Clouston's homer to left. The Oles got two back in the fourth but the Pipers matched that in the fifth when three hits and two errors led to the game's final two runs.

Clouston took it from there, giving up six hits to earn her third straight win. Her productive day meant her batting average went up 30 points and her ERA dropped half a run to a season-low 5.94.

Weather permitting, the Pipers will hope for a repeat performance Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Meredith Field when Augsburg visits for a doubleheader.

Game 1 boxscore

Game 2 boxscore