Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Hamline's softball team came very close to knocking St. Thomas out of the ranks of the unbeaten. But they will have to settle for that solace after an 8-4 loss in nine innings in the second game of a lively Sunday doubleheader at Meredith Field. The Pipers battled back twice from deficits and loaded the bases in boith extra innings. But the Tommies wriggled off the hook both times and (admittedly, barely) kept their undefeated standing atop the MIAC.

Although she pitched nobly, Bri Vela saw her six-game winning streak come to an end as HU fell to 15-13 overall and 11-7 (fourth place) in the MIAC.

The Tommies scraped out a pair of third inning runs for an early lead. HU cut that in half in the fifth on Bethany Hine's two out RBI single. UST scored again but Lauren Clouston responded with a clutch, two out, two RBI single that tied the game at 3. An unearned run in the top of the seventh gave UST a 4-3 lead but the Pipers worked their back when Brittney Bredemus walked, moved to second on a groundout, to third on a wild pitch and race home on Jamie Rubbelke's sharply hit groundout.

HU had a chance to win in the 8th but couldn't push across the winning run. The Tommies  broke through for four in the ninth inning but the Pipers put another big scare into them by loading the bases in the bottom of the inning before bowing out. Clouston and Hine had two hits apiece to pace a seven-hit attack.

In the first game, UST jumped to a 4-0 lead after an inning and a half. Hamline's lone run came in the fourth when Rubbelke walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Stepahnie Borndale's single. 

Hamline will play its final confernece games of the season Monday when they greet Carleton at Meredith Field for a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader. UW-Stout visits Meredith on Tuesday for the final games of the regular season.