Hamline scores 32 runs in double-header sweep

Game one saw the Pipers score 19 runs on 18 hits. A scoreless first three innings, with Crown as the home team on the scoreboard, gave way to a five-run fourth inning for the Pipers, as their bats came alive with six hits.

The hitting started with Ben Smith's (Jr., Orono, Minn.) one-out single to center. With Tres Humerickhouse (Fy., Farmington, Minn.) at the plate, Smith stole second, and then scored the first Piper run as Humerickhouse hit a triple. Consecutive doubles by Lincoln Hughes (So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Alex Buresh (So., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) brought in two more runs.

The Piper scoring continued as Buresh was then driven home by J.D. Modrynski's (Fy., Lakeville, Minn.) single. The fifth run was scored on the second triple of the inning, this time coming from Skip Fuller (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.).

Hamline added another run in the fifth inning as Smith scored on a sacrifice fly by Hughes.

An explosive sixth inning netted the Pipers 13 more runs on eight hits, three walks, two hit batters, and two Crown errors. Sandwiched in the scoring was a three-run homerun by Smith that scored Andrew Bennett (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.) and Jayden Grupe (Sr., Trimont, Minn.).

Dan Kaczrwoski (Jr., St. Anthony, Minn.) had two runs and four RBI on two hits, while Smith had four runs and three RBI on three hits, in the opening game.

Andrew Beltosky (So., Minneapolis, Minn.) threw five innings for the win, giving up just one hit and one walk with six strikeouts. Brian Martin (Sr., Golden Valley, Minn.) threw two innings in relief, giving up no hits and one walk wiht two strikeouts.

In game two, Hamline wasted no time in scoring, putting four runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. The inning started with a Kaczrowski lead-off single. He then advanced to third on an error by the Crown first baseman that got Grupe on base. Kaczrowski then scored the first run on a passed ball. Grupe advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored as Bennett grounded out.

Smith added a double and stole third base, then came home as Humerickhouse tripled. Humerickhouse scored on a Hughes gorund-out for the fourth run in the opening inning.

The Pipers added five runs in the second inning on just two hits and no Crown errors, as patience at the plate led to three walks and a hit batter.  

Hamline added three runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth for a 13-0 win.

Dominic Chenios (Jr., Hopkins, Minn.) went five and two-thirds innings in earning the win on the mound. He gave up just one hit and not walks while striking out six. Andrew Seymour (Sr., Sandstone, Minn.) finished out the game without surrendering a hit or walk.

The Pipers play at the Metrodome one more time before spring break, playing Edgewood in a double-header on Saturday, March 8, at 10:00 p.m.