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“This league is really competitive. There is more parody in our league than any other sport,” said head baseball coach Jason Verdugo. The Pipers have split their last two double headers against Macalester and Augsburg. Hamline got off to a fast start against Macalester in the first game. They scored two runs in their first at bats of the game. Sophomore Andrew Bennett started the game at shortstop where he has been a mainstay the last two seasons. The St. Paul native hit a two-run homerun in the fist inning. It was his first of the year. Senior catcher Brian Kingery set the table for Bennett with a single to center. Despite having the lead throughout the game, the contest remained close. It was a pitchers duel. Kyle Foster kept Macalester hitters off balanced all afternoon. He pitched a complete game allowing five hits, one walk, and a gaudy nine strikeouts. The biggest stat for Foster though, was that he allowed no runs. Foster’s complete game shut out earned him the win even though Macalester’s starting pitcher Ted Kimble struck out nine himself and pitched a complete game. Piper bats were too much because Kimble allowed five winning runs to cross home. Hamline beat Macalester 5-0.

In the second game, Hamline lost 3-7. Hamline took the lead of the game in the fourth inning. They scored two runs playing small ball. Two singles by Hamline hitters, followed by a double by sophomore Geoff Fuller scored two runs and put Hamline up 2-0. Hamline totaled four hits in the inning, but struck out and popped out to end the inning, leaving runners in scoring position at third and second. Things looked up for the Pipers though, until Macalester came to bat in the bottom of the fifth.

Timely hitting from Macalester combined with a wild pitch and an error by Hamline unravelled solid game the Pipers had going. Hamline pitchers combined to allow seven runs on six hits. The bottom of the fifth seemed to go on forever. Hamline scored one more run in the seventh but it wasn’t enough, the game was too far-gone. Piper Chris Parent started the game going 4.1 innings, striking out four, while absorbing the loss. Hamline out hit Macalester 9-8 but their hits weren’t at the right time.

Four days later, the Pipers traveled to Augsburg to split another double-header series. The two teams have some familiarity with each other. Hamline handed the Auggies a loss in Phoenix over spring break 15-12 in non-conference play. This doubleheader had different implications to both teams because MIAC records were at stake now. Both teams had trouble getting players across the plate. Macalester squeaked by with the victory 2-1. Brian Martin from Hamline collected the loss, going four innings, allowing two earned runs. Kyle Foster came in for relief and pitched well. He pitched two innings and stopped the Macalester offense, giving up three hits and allowed no runs. Foster, also a starter expects to pitch in both roles for the rest of the season.

Hamline’s Jeff Roiger can expect to start a few more games after his performance against Macalester. The sophomore had been closing games out from the bullpen respectably before taking the mound against the Scots.

“With conference play, we always intended on moving [Roiger] into the rotation,” said Verdugo. Roiger has been a versatile and productive player all year. He has contributed to the team in many ways. Roiger has hit the ball well while playing the outfield, closing, and starting games.

“[We] intend to have [Roiger] in the game all the time,” Verdugo said.

In Minneapolis last week, Roiger threw a complete-game one-hitter, leading Hamline to a 3-0 win over Augsburg. Roiger saved the grounds crew the task of cleaning the bases after the came because Macalester never used most of them. Macalester never got a runner past second base and the only hit came in the fourth in the form of a wimpy single. It was lights out baseball from there on out from Roiger and the Pipers. Roiger kept an impressive Augsburg lineup guessing what pitch was coming all afternoon. He struck out four in the victory. Hamline hitters were too much for Auggie pitchers Evan Almeroth and Andrew Werner to handle. The Piper offense racked up three runs off of seven hits. Pipers Aaron Thompson, Mike Goldsmith and Geoff Fuller all contributed with one RBI apiece. Goldsmith went 2 for 3.

Hamline continues to make their way through the MIAC schedule next week. They play doubleheaders against Gustavus and Carleton at the friendly home field confines of Midway stadium. The Pipers are trying to climb the standings of the competitive MIAC. They currently stand in fifth place.