Hamline sweeps UW-La Crosse in Arizona

In their first inning outside in 2008, the Pipers lit up the scoreboard right away, scoring three runs in the top of the first in their opening game in Arizona.

The Piper scoring started after Jayden Grupe (Sr., Trimont, Minn.) and Andrew Bennett (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.) hit consecutive one-out singles and were then doubled home by Tres Humerickhouse (Fy., Farmington, Minn.).  Humerickhouse then scored a run of his own as Lincoln Hughes (So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) singled to right field.

Hamline built up a 5-0 lead in the fifth after Ben Smith (Jr., Orono, Minn.) and Bennett scored on another single from Hughes.

A six-run sixth inning saw the Pipers add two to their tally in the top of the inning from Bennett and Grupe. The Eagles scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, but it wasn't enough to overcome the lead built up by the Pipers.

In game two, it was UW-La Crosse who jumped out to a 5-0 lead, this time in the top of the first. Hamline countered quickly, scoring five of their own to tie it up in the bottom half of the inning.

Lead-off hitter Dan Kaczrwoski (Jr., St. Anthony, Minn.) drew a walk and then stole second to get the Piper half of the inning started. He then advanced to third on a Grupe ground out and scored on a two-run homerun to center from Bennett.

Smith followed that up with a single and then stole second to get into scoring position before Humerickhouse's RBI single to center brought him home.

Hughes then doubled to bring Humerickhouse home. Tony Rogers (Fy., Elk River, Minn.) reached on a fielder's choice, and then advanced to second, as Hughes was thrown out at third. An Eagles balk advanced Rogers to third, who was then brought home when James McGee (Jr., Fridley, Minn.) singled to center field for the final run of the opening inning.

The Eagles generated a 6-5 lead in the top of the second, but it was quickly erased by three Hamline runs in the bottom of the frame, as Smith hit a one-out, two-RBI triple with Grupe and Bennett on base, followed by a sacrifice fly from Humerickhouse to score Smith.

The bottom of the third saw two Piper runs score on one hit and two Eagle errors to give Hamline a 10-6 lead.

A scoreless fourth and fifth inning gave way to three UW-La Crosse runs in the to of the sixth, followed by four Piper runs in the bottom of the inning, as Hamline stayed on top 14-9. The Eagles managed one more run in the top of the seventh, but it was all Hamline would allow as they completed the sweep.

The Pipers are now 5-4 and will continue their week-long series of games in Arizona on Sunday.