Pipers fall in doubleheader to Auggies

A back-and-forth opener saw Hamline break a 4-4 tie in the sixth inning with an RBI single from James McGee (Jr,. Fridley, Minn.) that brought home Jayden Grupe (Sr., Trimont, Minn.) for the 5-4 lead.

But with empty bases and two outs, Augsburg scrambled back to score two runs in the final inning to win the game.

In the loss, Ben Smith (Jr., Orono, Minn.) hit his third homerun of the year for Hamline.

Senior Mike Zaun (Mendota Heights, Minn.) hit the two-out single to get the Auggie rally started. After a hit batter, Nick Vavra (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn.), who was pinch running for Zaun, scored the tying run on a single from Brian Olson (Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) before Derek Williamson (So., St. Francis, Minn.) scored the winning run on a Piper error.

Starter Sam Weber (So., Arden Hills, Minn.) threw six innings and seven strikeouts for Augsburg, earning the win. Olsen moved to the mound from left field in the seventh for the save.

In game two, the Pipers struck first, and had the game tied at 3-3 in the third, but good things didn’t continue, as the Auggies added five runs in the fourth inning, including a three-run homerun by Williamson. Augsburg then added two runs in the fifth, while the Pipers could only add one more run, also in the fifth.

Andrew Bennett (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.) hit his eighth homerun of the season in the game two loss.

Jon-Eric Urseth (Jr., Golden Valley, Minn.) earned the win on the mound for the Auggies.

The losses drop Hamline to 18-13, 7-5 MIAC.  Augsburg climbs past .500 to 16-14, 8-6 MIAC. The Pipers host North Central University on Thursday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. at Midway Stadium.