Box Score You could hardly blame HU softball coach Jim Rubbelke if he asks to play more games at Edor Nelson Field. On a sunny, brisk afternoon, Hamline recorded an impressive sweep of Augsburg on its home turf, winning 5-3 in nine innings and 9-0 in five frames. It marked their second and third wins in a row at Edor Nelson Field and moved Hamline into solo possession of third place in the MIAC softball race.

The Pipers, who split a pair of games with St. Benedict on the same field earlier in the week, now have a 7-3 standard in conference play. They have won four of their last five games and stand 11-9 overall in 2013.

Although they won the two games over the Auggies in very different fashion, there was this constant: senior OF Laura Randall was in the middle of both triumphs. 

In the opener, her two-run single in the top of the 9th inning proved to plate the deciding runs. In the nightcap, she had a pair of hits in an eight-run first inning outburst that settled the issue early.

Game 1 was a taut affair that was tied 2-2 after the regulation seven innings. Jamie Rubbelke's solo homer in the eighth pushed HU ahead but the Auggies tied it up in the bottom of the inning. (It capped a big game for the freshman, who was 2-for-5 with three runs knocked in.)

In the ninth, with two out and nobody on, Brittney Bredemus started the deciding rally with a single and a stolen base. Bethany Hine then was safe on a fielder's choice and Bredemus took third. Hine stole second to set up Randall, who singled to left to break the tie for good.

Lauren Clouston, who went 2-4 at the plate, tossed a complete game five-hitter to get the win to even her record for the season at 4-4.

There was no such drama in the nightcap. Hamline sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning. Randall, who now leads the Pipers with a .345 batting average, had a pair of singles and scored once. Stephanie Borndale, who later would hit a solo homer, knocked in a pair with a single. The Auggies chipped in with four errors and, by the time the Pipers were finished, they had their biggest inning output of the season and a commanding lead out of the chute.

Brianna Vela took it from there, giving up just four hits with no walks and five strikeouts for her first collegiate shutout. It was her seventh win of the season, placing her fifth in the conference.

The Pipers' scheduled Sunday dh with St. Thomas has been postponed until Sunday, April 28 at Meredith Field at 1:00 p.m. By the time they face the Tommies, they will have a good idea where they stand in the league.

HU has a busy week ahead with four twinbills (three away from home) in a span of six days. First up: a pair at St. Mary's Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Carleton visits Meredith Field Wednesday at 3:30 for another pair. The Pipers also play doubleheaders at St. Olaf and Bethel later in the week.