Pipers take second place in MIAC tournament

Hamline and Augsburg played three and a half scoreless innings of softball, when Ashley Anderberg (So., Circle Pines, Minn.) hit a two-out double to get on base. Sarah Dittberner (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.) then singled her home for the 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, Hamline manuafactured four more runs on four hits, as Heidi Larsen (Fy., Andover, Minn.) doubled to lead off the inning. Sophie Davidson (So., St. Paul, Minn.) bunted her over on the sacrifice, and then Larsen stole third to set up the score on an RBI single to left field from Jourdan Ulrich (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.).

Ulrich stole second, and advanced to third on a single by Grace Weinreich (Jr., Wahkon, Minn.), setting the scene for a three-run homerun by Sara Mickelson (Sr., West St. Paul, Minn.), putting the Pipers up 5-0.

Jessalyn Weaver (So., Eagan, Minn.) continued to hold the Auggies scoreless after that scoring spree, allowing just one more hit in the final two innings, for a total of seven hits allowed in the complete-game shutout. Weaver threw two strikeouts in the win and gave up just one walk.

The win set up the championship showdown between the Pipers and the Tommies, who entered the fifth year of the MIAC four-team playoff format having captured each prior title.

The Tommies were riding a 56-game win streak against MIAC foes, and finished the regular season with a 22-0 record in the conference and were 39-3 overall heading into the game with the Pipers.

Hamline and St. Thomas battled through six and a half innings of scoreless play, with Hamline totaling four hits in that time, while fighting off six St. Thomas hits.

In the bottom of the seventh, St. Thomas hitter Kallie Samuelson drew a one-out walk and then was bunted over to second by Missy Bruggeman. The next Tommie batter popped out, but a two-out single to center field by Alison Wright scored the only run of the contest, ending the Pipers' upset hopes.

Weaver took the loss in the second game, giving up eight hits and two walks while striking out four.

In the tournament, Larsen led the Pipers in hitting, going 4-for-8 from the plate. She was tied for third in hitting in the tournament (.500), and was tied for second in the tournament in hits (4) and runs scored (3). Mickelson was also tied at second in hits with 4.

Davidson, Mickelson, and Larsen were three of just six players who slammed homeruns in the tournament - all of the other players were from St. Thomas.

Weaver led all pitchers in most innings pitched (23.1), strikeouts (10), appearances (4), and complete games (3). Weaver and Maria Bye from St. Thomas each tossed two shutouts in the tournament, the only ones thrown.

The Pipers overall record after today's split is 26-14, after finishing the regular season with a 16-6 MIAC record. St. Thomas is 40-3 and finished the regular season 22-0 in the MIAC. The Tommies earn the MIAC's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.