Pipers split first two MIAC playoff games

In the double-elimination tournament, the Pipers move on the play Augsburg at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 5.

The game will be played at the Rice Creek Fields in Mounds View.

The winner of that game will take on St. Thomas at 1:15 p.m. at the same location.

If the winner of the Augsburg/Hamline game then defeats St. Thomas, the same two teams will play a final game at 3:30 p.m. to determine the tournament champion.

Augsburg's path to tomorrow's match-up with the Pipers began with an 8-0 (5 innings) loss to St. Thomas, followed by a 7-6 defeat of Gustavus. Augsburg had held a 7-1 lead over a comeback-minded the Gusties in the fifth inning, but held on for the win.

For the Pipers, in the opening round 3-0 win over Gustavus, played at Bethel University, Hamline scored all three runs in the top of the third inning.

First-year Heidi Larsen (Andover, Minn.) drew a one-out walk and then advanced to second on a passed ball. In the next at-bat, Sophie Davidson slammed a two-run homerun over the center field wall for the 2-0 lead. It was her ninth round-tripper of the year.

Grace Weinreich (Jr., Wahkon, Minn.) then waited out four balls for a two-out walk, setting up an RBI double by Sara Mickelson (Sr., West St. Paul, Minn.) that put the Pipers up 3-0.

Jessalyn Weaver (So., Eagan, Minn.) then held the lead to the Pipers, as she threw a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits, striking out three, and only walking one.

Game two didn't go as smoothly for the Pipers, as they face #3-ranked and top-seed St. Thomas, who entered the game on a 55-game MIAC winning streak.

St. Thomas jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a three-run homerun, and added two more to it in the third.

The highlight for the Pipers in the game came in the fifth inning, as Kellie Hoen (Jr., Cologne, Minn.) hit a two-out single, setting up a two-run homerun over the right field wall for Larsen. It was Larsen's third homerun of the season.

St. Thomas ended the game with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth that gave the Tommies the eight-run advantage.

The Pipers overall record is now 25-13, while the Tommies are 39-3.