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April 05, 2005
Piper baseball team ready for run at first conference tournament berth
Hamline’s baseball team came out of their spring-break trip feeling prepared for the upcoming MIAC schedule, despite finishing their yearly trip to Texas with a 2-6 record.
The Pipers, who are 6-8 overall, opened their spring-break trip on March 18 in a 8-4 loss to Nebraska-
Wesleyan. They rebounded the following day with a 4-2 win over UW-Platteville, before falling to the University of Dallas 9-8 later in the afternoon.
Hamline faced both teams again on March 20, which resulted in a 12-4 loss to UW-Platteville and a 6-4 win over the University of Dallas.
The team ended their trip with two losses to East Texas Baptist and a 10-6 loss to UT-Tyler.
Though the record doesn’t show it, Hamline played well against a group of teams that are traditionally some of the best in the nation; they had nearly 100 combined wins last year.
“Our nonconference schedule will always be significantly tough for as long as I’m here,” said head coach Jason Verdugo. “But I thought we did pretty well [in Texas].
“The guys are disappointed with the record, but the way our schedule is, it’s purposeful,” he said.
Hamline enters the MIAC season with hopes of making the conference tournament, something they haven’t accomplished in recent seasons. Hamline’s softball team made the conference tournament for softball last season, becoming the first Hamline team since men’s basketball in the mid-’90s to make a MIAC tournament appearance.
Verdugo said the MIAC has shown more parity than in past seasons, making for more of an even playing field, and working in Hamline’s favor.
“It will benefit us, because it’s a situation where there aren’t four clear-cut teams that will run away with things to get into the tournament,” Verdugo said. “Everyone has to be on top of their game all year to make it.”
Another benefit for Hamline is that they are more experienced than in past seasons.
“A lot of the guys know what to expect from opponents in the conference, and this will help us out,” Verdugo said.
Though Hamline’s offense has been good this season and one of their strengths, switching from playing in the Metrodome to outdoor baseball on their trip in Texas may have influenced the Pipers’ play.
“It is a huge difference between playing in the dome and outdoor baseball,” Verdugo said. “I can’t even put into words how different it is. The big thing is getting used to playing outdoors again.”
Hamline enters the MIAC schedule this week and will be chasing down a conference tournament berth.
The Pipers have challenges ahead, but Verdugo said he’s optimistic: “Anything less than an appearance in the conference tournament would be a significant disappointment for us.”
Hamline’s next home game is Saturday, April 9, at Midway Stadium. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
Posted by msveum at April 5, 2005 09:31 PM
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